Taisei Marukawa Nears Indonesian Citizenship
Dewa United winger Taisei Marukawa has submitted his required citizenship documents and is awaiting final administrative approval to become a naturalized citizen of Indonesia, according to reports. The Japanese-born player, who arrived in the country during the 2021/2022 season, has logged 161 appearances in the Indonesian league with 36 goals and 44 assists.
If granted citizenship, Marukawa could become the first Japanese-born player to represent the Indonesian national team. Sources note that his potential inclusion depends entirely on technical assessments by the coaching staff rather than an automatic call-up.
Born in Hiroshima, Japan on January 30, 1997, the 29-year-old winger stated, I have submitted the documents needed to become a WNI and am currently waiting for approval.
Playing for Indonesia would be a very great honor for me.
Naturalization Pathway for Foreign League Standouts
Marukawa is part of a broader group of four foreign Liga 1 players currently pursuing Indonesian citizenship, Suara.com reported. The group includes Jordy Wehrmann, who holds Indonesian heritage, alongside Brazilian forwards Ciro Alves and David da Silva.
Taisei Marukawa yang sudah bermain sejak 2021 di Indonesia (5 Tahun) dikabarkan akan segera menjalani proses Naturalisasi!Apakah ini bisa menjadi tambahan berarti bagi skuad Garuda jika dia segera menjadi WNI? 🙌Profil Marukawa ▶️ https://t.co/A7ArewJNrK pic.twitter.com/Vt0GXGbsvD
Administrative tracks differ among the candidates. While Wehrmann initiated his documentation through family roots, Marukawa, Ciro, and David do not have Indonesian bloodlines. Regional legal offices have previously consulted on these filings, though final clearances remain pending.
The four players are pursuing citizenship via the 5-year domicile pathway. Previous players who successfully penetrated the squad through this domicile route include Cristian Gonzáles, Marc Klok, Alberto Goncalves, Ilija Spasojević, Bio Paulin, and Osas Saha, while figures like Herman Dzumafo, Silvio Escobar, O.K. John, and Fabiano Beltrame faced difficulties due to age. For Ciro Alves, the process involved visiting the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law in North Maluku in December 2025 alongside club representatives for consultation regarding the naturalization application, a move confirmed by the regional office even though exact progress remains uncertain. Meanwhile, discussions regarding David da Silva’s naturalization surfaced in January 2026 after Ciro’s consultation.
Overseas Performances Draw Attention
Beyond domestic naturalization news, Indonesian internationals competing abroad continue to make an impact. Mitchell Baker featured for the Georgetown Hoyas in the United States, scoring one goal in a 3-0 victory over St. John’s Red Storm during a BIG EAST Conference NCAA Division 1 fixture, as detailed by VIVA.
In France, Calvin Verdonk contributed to Lille’s 1-0 win against Le Havre in Ligue 1 action. Entering the match as a substitute, the defender helped maintain defensive stability until the final whistle.
Upcoming World Cup Qualifiers and Tournament Draws
Looking toward competitive fixtures, the Indonesia national team is positioned in Pot 3 ahead of the official draw for the second round of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for December 15, 2026. The team faces potential group matchups against regional opponents such as the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and Singapore.
