FIFA Approves Naturalization of Three New Players for Indonesia’s National Team

FIFA has officially recognized the naturalization process of three new players for the Indonesian National Team: Emil Audero, Dean James, and Joey Pelupessy. The trio has successfully switched their federations from FIGC (Italy) and KNVB (Netherlands) to PSSI, making them eligible to represent Indonesia.

This announcement, shared by Erick Thohir on March 13, 2025, ensures that the players can be registered for the World Cup Qualifiers. However, this news also raises some concerns for players already announced for the upcoming matches against Bahrain and Australia.

Coach Patrick Kluivert had already named 27 players for the fixtures, meaning that the inclusion of Audero, James, and Pelupessy could result in the exclusion of three existing squad members. Kluivert is known for his selective approach to team selection, with a focus on players' playing time at the club level.

Following the naturalization of these three players, PSSI is reportedly targeting three more dual-nationality players to strengthen the national team. The targets include Fenerbahçe’s defender Jayden Oosterwolde, PEC Zwolle’s Tristan Gooijer, and FC Utrecht’s midfielder Miliano Jonathans.