Shin Tae-yong Ensures Eliano And Mees Join The Indonesian National Team In The Nearest 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Eliano Reijnders will join the Indonesian national team with Mees Hilgers in the near future (Instagram/@eliano.r).

JAKARTA - The Indonesian national team coach, Shin Tae-yong, confirmed that Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders would join the team against Bahrain and China in the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

The news about the joining of Mees and Eliano was revealed by Shin Tae-yong because the two players would take the oath of Indonesian citizens (WNI) on Monday, September 30, 2024.

After the process of taking the oath of Indonesian citizens is complete, Eliano and Mees will have an Indonesian Identity Card (KTP) and undergo a federation transfer from KNVB (Dutch Football Federation) to PSSI (All Indonesian Football Association).

Although there is still a process that is being carried out in this naturalization, Shin Tae-yong is sure that everything will go on as scheduled.

Thus, the two players could be involved during the 2026 World Cup Qualification continued match against Bahrain and China.

"Eliano Reijnders and Mees Hilgers will join directly against Bahrain and China," said Shin Tae-yong at the Madya Stadium, Jakarta, after watching the U-20 Indonesian national team quoted on Monday, September 30, 2024.

The presence of Mees and Eliano will obviously be an additional force when they undergo two away matches against China and Bahrain on October 10 and 15, 2024.

Hilgers, who is the backbone of FC Twenty, is expected to strengthen the Indonesian defense with Jay Idzes.

Meanwhile, Eliano is an attacking midfielder that Indonesia has needed. Eliano is expected to increase the creativity of the midfield while at the same time supporting the performance of Garuda's squad attackers.

The Indonesian national team will be stronger after having Mees Hilgers and Eliano Reijnders. Currently, the Red-White team is undergoing the Third Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

In the first two matches of Group C of the 2026 World Cup Qualification, Indonesia was able to pocket two points after holding Saudi Arabia 1-1 and Australia 0-0.