John Herdman leads Indonesia squad selection for AFF 2026 amid naturalization of Mitchell Baker

Coach John Herdman is finalising the Indonesia national football team’s 26‑man roster for the ASEAN Championship (AFF 2026) scheduled for late July to August 2026. He expressed disappointment that many overseas‑based players could not be released by their clubs because the tournament is not on the FIFA calendar, limiting the squad largely to domestic league players.

The naturalisation of 19‑year‑old striker Mitchell Baker was completed on 13 July 2026, when he took the oath of Indonesian citizenship. Baker, born in Melbourne to an Indonesian mother, is expected to join the final squad and strengthen the forward line.

Herdman praised the support of Indonesian clubs such as Persib, Persija and Bali United, and highlighted Vietnam as the strongest opponent in Group A, stating, “Vietnam maybe the strongest team in the tournament.” His comment drew sharp reactions from Vietnamese media, which accused him of conceding defeat.

Other diaspora prospects, such as Dutch‑born midfielder Mike Kleijn of Surabaya descent, have been mentioned but are not yet in the squad. The AFF 2026 is also being used as a development platform for domestic players ahead of the Asian Cup 2027 and World Cup 2030 qualification campaigns.