Jakarta – The House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR), through Commission XIII, has officially approved the naturalization of Mauro Nils Zijlstra and Miliano Jonathans, two football players set to bolster Indonesia’s national football team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
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Approval in DPR Working Meeting
The decision was made during the Commission XIII Working Meeting (Raker), attended by PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Taufik Hidayat. The meeting, which started at 08:15 WIB, focused on the naturalization of athletes to strengthen the Indonesian national team in international events. In total, nine athletes received approval, including five football players and four ice hockey players.
Willy Aditya, Chairman of Commission XIII, confirmed the decision. “These five football players have been approved by the Commission XIII of the DPR,” he stated. Following the explanation from government representatives, Willy Aditya concluded the meeting by stating that the DPR approved the request for Indonesian citizenship for the athletes.
Naturalization Set for World Cup Qualifiers
This move comes as Indonesia’s national football team prepares for the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification matches, scheduled to take place from October 8 to 14, 2025. Indonesia is placed in Group B, alongside Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with Saudi Arabia hosting the group.
List of Approved Football Players and Ice Hockey Athletes
The following five football players have been approved for naturalization:
- Mauro Nils Zijlstra
- Corian Kopp
- Isabelle Nottet
- Pauline Jeannette van de Pol
- Miliano Jonathans
Additionally, the four ice hockey players approved are:
- Savelii Molchanov
- Evgenii Nurislamov
- Artem Bezrukov
- Adel Khabibullin
Strengthening Indonesia’s Team for Future Competitions
The approval of these athletes comes at a critical time as Indonesia seeks to strengthen its squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The inclusion of Zijlstra and Jonathans will add depth and experience to the team, providing much-needed reinforcements for the attacking line.
This decision also marks a significant step in Indonesia's efforts to build a more competitive team for international tournaments, with both male and female football players contributing to this goal.
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