FIFA Eligibility Rules Put Indonesia’s European-Born Talent Hopes on Hold

Indonesia’s ambition to strengthen its national football team with talented players of Indonesian descent from Europe has encountered several obstacles. Although a number of promising names have attracted attention as potential additions to the Garuda squad, eligibility requirements and administrative complications have prevented some of them from moving closer to representing the country. Dean Zandbergen, Mauresmo Hinoke, Jairo Riedewald, and Mitchel Bakker are among the players whose potential involvement has faced significant challenges, despite their different backgrounds and levels of experience.

Dean Zandbergen is the latest player to face difficulties in pursuing an international career with Indonesia. The 25-year-old striker, who plays for Dinamo București, was reportedly approached as a potential reinforcement for the national team under head coach John Herdman. However, further examination revealed that his Indonesian ancestry comes from his great-grandparent rather than a grandparent or parent. This family connection does not meet the standard eligibility requirements for representing Indonesia through ancestry, making his prospects considerably more complicated.

Mauresmo Hinoke previously encountered a similar obstacle while emerging as a promising talent for Indonesia’s future. The Netherlands-born player attracted attention after representing Indonesia’s U-20 team at the Maurice Revello Tournament in 2024. Despite his performances, the naturalisation process faced difficulties because his Indonesian roots were traced to the fourth generation. Nevertheless, his chances of representing Indonesia may not be entirely over. A potential residency-based route could remain an option if he meets the relevant FIFA eligibility requirements and obtains Indonesian citizenship.

Jairo Riedewald’s situation is different because the main obstacle identified by the Indonesian Football Association, known as PSSI, involved documentation. The former Ajax Amsterdam and Crystal Palace midfielder was considered a valuable prospect because of his ability to contribute in both midfield and defence. However, PSSI chairman Erick Thohir explained in February 2025 that the available documents did not provide a sufficiently strong basis to proceed with the application. Riedewald’s three senior appearances for the Netherlands during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign also make the regulations governing a change of national association an important consideration in assessing his eligibility.

Mitchel Bakker is another European-based player who has been linked to Indonesia because of his reported family roots in Maluku. The defender has gained valuable experience with major European clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Bayer Leverkusen, and Atalanta, making him an attractive potential addition to the national team. However, preliminary checks reportedly suggested that his Indonesian ancestry also came from a great-grandparent, creating a potential eligibility barrier. These four cases highlight the complexities behind Indonesia’s efforts to recruit players of Indonesian descent. While ancestry requirements, citizenship rules, documentation, and international appearances can all affect eligibility, the circumstances differ from player to player, and not every case represents a formal rejection by FIFA.