PSSI Will Re-list 3 Players For Naturalization In August

Baru Mauro Zijlstra whose naturalization file is complete (Instagram/@maurozijlstra).

JAKARTA - PSSI General Chair Erick Thohir revealed the agenda that in August 2025 the federation will re-registered three footballers for naturalization. Currently PSSI is still waiting for official documents and support from the player concerned.

Even though he has revealed the closest plan, PSSI is still reluctant to reveal in full other figures who will go through the process of moving the country. So far, only one name has been known, namely Mauro Zijlstra.

"We are waiting for the letters from these two players. I have not received the documents because in naturalization this must be careful. We do not want to make it lawful at all costs," said Erick Thohir in his statement in Jakarta, quoted on Friday, July 25, 2025.

"So, we hope that the process will be with Mauro Zijlstra. We will register in August 2025. Hopefully we can make it easier. We will face the President next week," he said.

So far, only Zijlstra documents have been processed. This 21-year-old player naturalization document has been provided by the Ministry of Youth and Sports to the Ministry of Law and is only discussed in the DPR RI.

With the entry of the Zijlstra document and two new players will be submitted, the three are expected to be able to defend the Indonesian national team in the Fourth Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

The two opponents that will be faced by the Garuda Squad in the Fourth Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification are Saudi Arabia and Iraq. This match will take place at King Abdullah Sport City Stadium on October 8 and 11, 2025.

Although they are not yet willing to give leaked names of players who will undergo naturalization, these players are guaranteed to have quality. In this case, PSSI does not just naturalize players.

"In terms of grade A and B cases, it's in accordance with talent pool. Things like this are players and coaches that we have to be aware of, one player chooses a country because it is ranked."

"Players who choose us, we should be grateful if what we get is good. If we want to be higher, yes, our ranking must be 50 (FIFA) first. Now we are only ranked 118," said Erick Thohir.