Indonesia Eyes New Diaspora Talent as Luke Vickery and Mitchell Baker Near Naturalization

The Indonesian football federation is reportedly moving forward with the naturalization process of two overseas-based players, Luke Vickery and Mitchell Baker, as part of its long-term plan to strengthen the national team. The update was revealed by Noor Korompot, a special staff member of Indonesia's Minister of Law, who confirmed that both players are currently completing the administrative process to become Indonesian citizens.

The naturalization effort involves coordination between several government institutions, including the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the State Secretariat, parliament, and the President of Indonesia. The process has become an important strategy for Indonesia national football team in recent years as the federation continues searching for talented players with Indonesian heritage competing abroad.

Both Vickery and Baker are expected to be available for the FIFA Matchday schedule in June 2026 if the process is completed on time. Indonesia is set to play friendly matches against Oman national football team and Mozambique national football team at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium as part of the team's preparations for future international competitions.

Vickery currently plays for Macarthur FC in Australia, while Baker recently attracted attention after being selected by Colorado Rapids in the MLS SuperDraft 2026. Indonesian coach John Herdman is believed to have proposed several new diaspora players to strengthen the squad, with Vickery and Baker among the priority names.

Speculation has also grown around other diaspora talents linked with Indonesia, including Dean Zandbergen, Jenson Seelt, Laurin Ulrich, Tristan Gooijer, and Pascal Struijk. However, officials have not confirmed whether those players are included in the additional shortlist requested by Herdman. For now, the focus remains on finalizing the citizenship process for Vickery and Baker before the upcoming international window.