Mitchell Baker naturalised as Indonesian citizen, AFF 2026 role still undecided

On 13 July 2026 Mitchell Baker, a 19‑year‑old forward born in Melbourne, officially took the oath of Indonesian citizenship at the Ministry of Law in Jakarta. Baker, who has Indonesian ancestry through his mother, has previously played in Hong Kong, Australia and the United States and was selected by Colorado Rapids in the MLS SuperDraft.

PSSI’s national team board chairman Sumardji said the federation has not yet confirmed whether Baker will be eligible for the AFF 2026 championship, noting that the decision “cannot be given at this time.” After his naturalisation, Baker travelled to Bali to join the national team’s training camp and said he wants to win coach John Herdman’s favour to secure a place in the squad. "I am very happy, this is a proud moment for me and my family," he told the press.

The story highlights Indonesia’s effort to strengthen its attacking options ahead of the regional tournament while the final selection remains pending.