Indonesia's 10-Player Naturalisation Claim Meets PSSI Caution Before 2027 Asian Cup

Herdman's recruitment ambitions await a formal request

Indonesia's football federation says coach John Herdman has yet to submit a formal request for new players, putting a concrete limit on speculation about plans to naturalise 10 footballers for the national team's campaign towards the 2030 World Cup.

PSSI secretary general Yunus Nusi outlined that position in remarks published on October 9, 2026, shortly after Indonesia's reported victory over Thailand in the FIFA ASEAN Cup final on October 5. Yunus said the coach must communicate his needs to federation chairman Erick Thohir, with a written request sometimes required.

The immediate sporting target is the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for January 7 to February 5, 2027. Indonesia has been drawn in Group F with Japan, Qatar and Thailand. That leaves roughly three months between the October recruitment discussion and the opening of the tournament.

Herdman has spoken about monitoring potential additions and bringing new players, including members of the Indonesian diaspora, into the squad over six months. His search includes footballers abroad and players in Indonesia's domestic competition.

The number 10 comes from a circulating recruitment claim. PSSI has yet to announce a number, an approved list, administrative proceedings or a decision date. Eight players are named in the version of that claim attracting attention, while a broader discussion published on October 15 identifies at least 16 possibilities.

For supporters, the practical issue is which players Herdman needs, which are eligible and willing to represent Indonesia, and how quickly the federation can act before the Asian Cup.

What PSSI says must happen first

Yunus, speaking on the sidelines of an extraordinary PSSI Central Java congress in Semarang, said the federation was waiting for an official approach from Herdman. He placed responsibility for identifying gaps in the squad with the coach, who would decide the composition best suited to his football.

The procedure he described begins with a sporting judgment: Herdman identifies the positions or qualities he needs, then communicates those requirements to Erick Thohir. Depending on the circumstances, the request also needs to be put in writing.

PSSI was waiting for Herdman to return from holiday before further discussion. Yunus's comments leave the federation's public position at an early stage, with player assessment preceding any announced recruitment programme.

A similar message had emerged months earlier. On February 9, 2026, PSSI executive committee member Arya Sinulingga said he had received no information about new naturalisation candidates following Herdman's trip to Europe. With matches approaching in March, Arya considered the time available too short for a new naturalisation process.

Arya said Herdman first needed to understand the players already available. Different coaches seek different combinations, he explained, and the squad would need to fit Herdman's playing system. Taken together, the February and October comments show that PSSI's public responses have consistently centred on the coach's evaluation and a formal request.

Eight names behind a claim about 10 players

The list associated with the claim names Tristan Schenkhuizen, Julian Oerip, Jenson Seelt, Tristan Gooijer, Dean Zandbergen, Demiane Agustien, Pascal Struijk and Jayden Oosterwolde. Those eight names account for the players identified in that version; two further names are unspecified.

The circulating descriptions associate Schenkhuizen with VVV Venlo, Oerip with AZ Alkmaar, Seelt with Swansea City and Gooijer with Lommel SK. Zandbergen is linked with Dinamo, Agustien with Arsenal, Struijk with Brighton and Hove Albion, and Oosterwolde with Fenerbahce.

These players have the status of possible recruits discussed publicly. Their willingness to join Indonesia, any contact with the federation and their individual eligibility remain unconfirmed.

The wider list discussed on October 15 includes Million Manhoef, associated with Stoke City; Markus Pall Ellertsson, associated with IA Akranes; and Jahnoah Markelo, associated with Shabab Al-Ahli in the United Arab Emirates. Oerip is described more specifically there as playing for Jong AZ, while Agustien is identified with Arsenal U21.

The difference between eight named players, a claim of 10 recruits and a wider pool of at least 16 possibilities matters because each describes a different thing: a published selection of names, a proposed recruitment total and a larger group of potential options. PSSI's own squad requirements will determine which, if any, move into a formal process.

Citizenship and football eligibility are separate checks

Naturalisation is the legal process through which someone becomes a citizen of a country. Representing that country in international football also requires compliance with FIFA's eligibility rules. A recruitment decision therefore involves both nationality and the player's sporting status.

For each prospective Indonesian player, the relevant checks include family background, citizenship, previous international participation where applicable, and the player's own decision. The detailed circumstances can differ substantially from one footballer to another.

Markelo illustrates why individual checks matter. The wider candidate discussion specifically identifies his claimed Indonesian ancestry as requiring further evidence. Oosterwolde is described as having Indonesian family roots through his mother and as previously favouring an opportunity with the Netherlands.

Agustien is also described as having Indonesian ancestry through his mother's family, alongside experience in Dutch youth football. Establishing family connections and reviewing a player's international record are tasks for the responsible authorities before selection can proceed.

Herdman has acknowledged the personal choice involved. At his introductory press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia's head coach explained that recruiting a player means persuading someone who may have competing opportunities.

We are trying to bring the best players to this country," Herdman said. "Convincing them to play for Indonesia is a big step because they often have other options.

Why Herdman wants experience at a higher level

Herdman's stated recruitment preference is for quality wherever a player was born, developed or currently plays. Asked about searching for footballers of Indonesian descent in England, he described an approach unrestricted by geography.

The coach connected that search to the demands of international matches, where players have less time to make decisions and must react quickly to changes in possession and positioning. He set out the experience he wants in the squad at his first Jakarta press conference.

"To compete on the world stage, you need first- and second-tier players who have played in the world's top five leagues," Herdman said.

Herdman then identified the football qualities behind that preference.

"You need players who understand the intensity, speed and tactical intelligence of international football," he said.

In simple terms, the coach wants players accustomed to making good choices under pressure. Club experience can help him assess those qualities, while the final selection still has to produce a team whose players work well together.

Indonesia's previous coaches, Shin Tae-yong and Patrick Kluivert, also used naturalised players, many of Dutch descent. Herdman's approach continues that recruitment route while placing his own assessment of playing quality and team composition at the centre.

The existing squad remains part of the answer

Herdman's early visit to Europe included meetings with Dean James, Kevin Diks and Jay Idzes, all already part of Indonesia's player pool. Those meetings gave the coach contact with established internationals as he prepared for his first fixtures.

Other Indonesian players identified as still playing in Europe at that time included Nathan Tjoe-A-On, Calvin Verdonk, Emil Audero, Miliano Jonathans and Maarten Paes. The most recent naturalisation process identified in the February account took place in August 2025 and involved Jonathans and Mauro Zijlstra.

Elkan Baggott also featured in the discussion about recruitment from England. He was identified as Indonesia's player of British descent and as having last appeared for the senior national team at the 2023 Asian Cup.

Indonesia's domestic players remain within Herdman's search. He has said he watches local football and Bali United matches, with family activities in Bali giving him opportunities to attend games. His monitoring therefore covers both possible overseas recruits and players competing at home.

For a domestic player, that creates a direct route into the coach's assessment through club performances. For an established international abroad, the task is to show how his qualities fit Herdman's preferred formation and approach.

How the recruitment discussion developed

Indonesia's recruitment debate has unfolded across several stages, from the last identified citizenship changes in 2025 to the federation's October response. The sequence helps explain why early scouting, tournament preparation and speculation about future recruits have become linked.

• August 2025: Miliano Jonathans and Mauro Zijlstra underwent the latest naturalisation process identified in the February account.
• February 9, 2026: Arya Sinulingga said he had received no news of new candidates and stressed the limited time before March matches.
• March 23 to 31, 2026: Herdman's initial schedule placed the FIFA Series at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium within this international window.
• July 25, 2026: The earlier coaching schedule listed this as the start of the 2026 AFF Cup.
• October 5, 2026: Indonesia was reported to have beaten Thailand on penalties in the FIFA ASEAN Cup final after a 2-2 draw through extra time.
• October 9, 2026: Yunus's published comments said PSSI had received no formal request for new players.
• January 7 to February 5, 2027: Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the Asian Cup.

Herdman's earlier programme also included international windows in June, September, October and November. Those fixtures formed part of the coach's planned opportunities to assess players and develop a settled team.

The Asian Cup puts a closer deadline on a longer ambition

The 2030 World Cup provides the distant ambition behind the recruitment discussion. The Asian Cup presents the more immediate task: prepare a squad for Group F against Japan, Qatar and Thailand.

Thailand already has a prominent place in Indonesia's recent story because of the reported October 5 final. Indonesia's victory came through penalties after neither side had secured a winning advantage during regulation time or extra time. A meeting in the Asian Cup group would bring a different tournament setting and another test of the squad.

The reported regional title also gives Herdman a recent success to present when speaking to prospective players. His own comments identify a clear route into the team, competitive matches and a convincing team vision as reasons a player might choose Indonesia.

Recruitment and preparation now have to fit the same calendar. Herdman's stated six-month recruitment horizon extends beyond the roughly three months separating the October discussion from the Asian Cup's opening. Some additions he envisages could therefore belong to a longer programme of squad development.

Indonesia's next concrete steps are for Herdman to define his needs, discuss them with PSSI and prepare the team for Saudi Arabia. The choices will affect both the opportunities available to current players and the roles offered to any newcomers.

Key Points

• PSSI secretary general Yunus Nusi said in comments published on October 9 that Herdman had submitted no formal request for new players.
• The circulating claim concerns 10 recruits, but the associated list identifies eight players.
• Herdman is monitoring footballers abroad and in Indonesia's domestic competition.
• Prospective recruits require individual checks covering citizenship, FIFA eligibility and willingness to represent Indonesia.
• Indonesia's Asian Cup group includes Japan, Qatar and Thailand, with the tournament scheduled for January 7 to February 5, 2027.
• The 2030 World Cup is the longer ambition, while the Asian Cup provides the immediate preparation deadline.