The paths for naturalized football players in Southeast Asia

Malaysia put nine overseas players of Malaysian origin in the starting lineup as they host Vietnam for the Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday and went on to secure a 4-0 victory, their biggest win ever over Vietnam and their first win since the 2014 AFF Cup (now ASEAN Cup).

The goals were scored by Joao Figueiredo of Brazil, Rodrigo Holgado (Argentina), La’Vere Corbin-Ong (England), and Dion Cools (Belgium).

The match has received a lot of debate at home and abroad about the use of naturalized players in national teams, as all four players, while having Malaysian heritage or meeting eligibility requirements, were not raised in the country.

The concept of "naturalized players" in ASEAN football

The term "naturalized players" has been widely used in Southeast Asian football discourse, especially since 2010, when the Philippines national team began prominently using foreign-born players. However, this label can be misleading, as the paths to citizenship and eligibility vary significantly between countries.

In the Philippines, the national team have long relied on players born and raised abroad. For example, in the 2018 AFF Cup, 19 out of 23 players in their squad were foreign-born.

Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge is a naturalized player, but of Filipino descent, born and raised abroad. Photo by PFF

With a long history of being colonized along with a big overseas community, the nationality law of the Philippines is rooted in jus sanguinis (right of blood), which grants citizenship to individuals with at least one Filipino parent, regardless of birthplace. The country also allows dual citizenship, enabling the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) to recruit talent globally without legal challenges.

In this context, the term "naturalized" is technically inaccurate for many Filipino players. They are simply described as "foreign-born Filipinos" or "overseas Filipino players".

It is different in Indonesia and Malaysia

In contrast, Indonesia and Malaysia do not permit dual citizenship. Players must renounce their previous nationality to represent these countries, making the term "naturalized players" legally accurate.

That said, the strategy of both nations is still shifting toward repatriating players of heritage rather than recruiting unrelated foreigners.

Jay Idzes (number 4), a naturalized Dutch defender of Indonesian descent, celebrates after scoring the opening goal in Indonesia's 3-0 win over Vietnam in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on March 26, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Under the leadership of Football Association of Indonesia president Erick Thohir, the team have focused on players of Indonesian descent, particularly from the Dutch-Indonesian diaspora. These players can obtain citizenship quickly due to government support, and at the moment, the Indonesia national team's starting lineup often includes a majority of such players - 90%.

In the past, before coach Shin Tae-yong took charge, the national team relied heavily on players with no Indonesian ancestry, such as Cristian Gonzales (Uruguay), Greg Nwokolo (Nigeria) and Beto Goncalves (Brazil), who gained citizenship through long-term residency, usually five years. Many of them were past their prime and that only offered a short-term solution, which holds no candle to the current naturalized players who have Indonesian blood.

Malaysia followed a similar direction. Beginning in 2018, the country allowed foreign players to naturalize after living there for five consecutive years. Examples include Mohamadou Sumareh (Gambia), Paulo Josue and Endrick (both Brazil). More recently, backed by Johor Crown Prince and president of the country’s top club Johor Darul Ta’zim Tunku Ismail, Malaysia have intensified efforts to recruit players with Malaysian heritage, often highlighting the word "heritage" in press conferences and speeches to avoid misunderstanding and be more culturally acceptable.

Vietnam midfielder Nguyen Hai Long (number 10), tries to dribble past several naturalized players of Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Tu

Naturalization strategies across Asia

Japan, one of Asia's football powerhouses, has also embraced naturalization in a more measured and culturally-integrated way. They are one of the first Asian nations that welcomed naturalized players with open arms.

The first naturalized player in Japanese football was Daishiro Yoshimura (born Nelson Yoshimura), a Brazilian of Japanese descent, who represented Japan in the 1974 Asian Games and 1974 World Cup qualifiers.

Over time, players like Wagner Lopes and Alessandro Santos, both born in Brazil, joined the national team. Japan's dual-track approach includes both bloodline and non-bloodline naturalization, with an emphasis on cultural assimilation, language acquisition, and education through the school football system.

Alessandro Santos plays for Japan national football team. Photo by JFA

Santos, for instance, moved to Japan at 16, studied in Japanese schools and integrated fully into society before representing the national team.

Journalist Kao Barley Jaroencher noted that cultural education needs to be integrated into the training process of young players. This model helps naturalized players have a similar culture, mindset and lifestyle to native players.

Today, Japan’s "haafu" players (having one or both parents as foreigners) are seen as an example of diversity and national strength, having grown up in Japan’s school-based football system.

Thailand’s approach

Thailand, a football powerhouse in ASEAN, however, remains cautious when it comes to naturalized players. While players of Thai origin are generally accepted, foreign players with no Thai blood still created disapproval in the public eye.

Jaroencher, who works for ThairathTV and previously Siam Sport, told VnExpress: "Personally, I think anyone who is proud to be Thai and is willing to contribute to the country and represent the national team can choose this path. Naturalization can even be a shortcut to achieve quick success, as in the case of Indonesia. However, at the same time, there must be efforts to build a solid football foundation for the country to create a sustainable team."

Italian-Thai midfielder Marco Ballini (number 3) in the Thailand squad for the friendly match against India at Thammasat Stadium on June 4, 2025. Photo by Changsuek

Which direction for Vietnam?

Vietnam have been conservative in their approach to naturalization, though recent developments, like the cases of Phan Van Santos, Dinh Hoang Max and more recently Nguyen Xuan Son, showed that the government is gradually opening the door for such players.

The main problem is how to have a solid foundation and the right method. If Vietnam plans to naturalize foreign players to achieve short-term goals, they must first comply with FIFA’s requirement of five years of residency. Beyond that, success depends on sufficient financial resources to attract genuine talent and ensuring cultural integration, beginning with language proficiency.

"Naturalization will inevitably have an impact, as each country has its own distinct culture and traditions," Jaroencher said. "However, these can be communicated to naturalized players, helping them gradually absorb and understand the culture of the country they represent. If they wish to wear the national jersey, this is something they must be willing to learn and show."

Vietnam naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son shares joy with fans after scoring at ASEAN Cup 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Compared to Indonesia or Malaysia, Vietnam has a limited pool of overseas players with a high footballing level. While some players of Vietnamese heritage based overseas have drawn public attention, most have not met professional expectations upon returning home, with exceptions being Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Filip and more recently Cao Pendant Quang Vinh.

Ultimately, everything depends on a strong football system. Only with such a base can naturalization become a sustainable "win-win" strategy. Without it, the approach risks being nothing more than a short-term fix, according to insiders.

"Countries like Vietnam need a comprehensive football development strategy, beginning with the youth training system, which is the nation’s future," Jaroencher added. "This should include creating more youth leagues and supporting football academies that welcome both local and foreign players. At the same time, integrating cultural education into youth training must also be prioritized. These talents will be key in bridging identity and professionalism, helping ensure sustainable football development across Southeast Asia."