Indonesia has temporarily suspended player naturalization ahead of coach John Herdman's debut.
PSSI will stop naturalizing new players for the FIFA Series in March 2026. New coach John Herdman will focus on developing the existing squad after his scouting trip to Europe.
The Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) has officially confirmed that it will not be pursuing any further naturalization plans during the preparations for the FIFA Series in March 2026. This decision puts new head coach John Herdman in a position where he must make the most of the existing players for his upcoming debut.
Time pressure and staffing challenges at PSSI
Arya Sinulingga, a member of the PSSI Executive Committee, stated that the biggest obstacle currently is the extremely limited timeframe. With February 2026 already approaching, the legal procedures for naturalizing a player are often lengthy and cannot be completed in time before the league begins next month.
Speaking specifically to the media, Arya emphasized: "I haven't received any information about this. It's already February, and the tournament is in March; there's too little time to proceed with naturalization. He will certainly use the existing players first to assess the team's actual capabilities."
Force review campaign in Europe
Despite not having any new signings, coach John Herdman still possesses a quality squad of players currently playing in top European leagues. Before officially beginning his coaching duties in Indonesia, the Canadian strategist undertook an important trip to Europe to assess the form of his key players.
Specifically, Herdman personally observed the performance of key cards such as:
- Kevin Dicks(Borussia Monchengladbach)
- Dean James(Go Ahead Eagles)
- Jay Idzes(Sassuolo)
The core objective of the trip was to assess the actual physical condition and tactical adaptability of the players at their respective clubs, thereby building the most optimal framework for the Indonesian national team in the FIFA Series.
Strategic vision after the FIFA Series
PSSI affirms its full support for the coaching staff; however, any future personnel additions will depend entirely on the head coach's professional assessment. The temporary suspension of naturalizations is seen as a logical step to allow John Herdman a comprehensive view of the team's capabilities without being distracted by external factors.
After the international friendly matches in March, based on the existing weaknesses and needs, PSSI will consider searching for new players. This approach reflects Indonesian football's cautious approach to optimizing resources in order to pursue longer-term goals in continental competitions.
