Sports Updates : IN FOCUS: For pride or glory? Southeast Asia's football naturalisation debate

URL: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/southeast-asia-football-naturalisation-foreign-talent-asean-championship-focus-4854286

DeepSeek:

The debate over the naturalisation of foreign-born footballers in Southeast Asia is intensifying as countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore increasingly rely on imported talent to boost their national teams. This trend, driven by FIFA's residency and heritage rules, has seen players from Brazil, Japan, the Netherlands, and other countries represent Southeast Asian nations. While naturalisation has brought immediate improvements in performance—such as Vietnam's ASEAN Championship win led by Brazilian-born Nguyen Xuan Son—it has also sparked concerns about over-reliance on foreign talent and the neglect of local player development.

Indonesia has been particularly aggressive in its naturalisation strategy, leveraging its diaspora in the Netherlands to recruit players with Indonesian heritage. This approach has yielded success, including a historic run in the 2023 Asian Cup and strong performances in World Cup qualifiers. However, critics argue that this strategy risks sidelining local players and creating a disconnect between the national team and its fans. The recent ASEAN Championship, where Indonesia fielded a mostly under-22 squad due to the unavailability of naturalised players, highlighted the team's dependence on foreign talent and the need for robust youth development.

Singapore, once a pioneer in naturalisation, has shifted focus to building a sustainable football ecosystem through initiatives like Unleash The Roar (UTR). While naturalised players like Kyoga Nakamura and Song Ui-young are valued for their contributions, the emphasis is now on nurturing local talent. Similarly, Vietnam has adopted a hybrid model, combining naturalised players like Xuan Son with a strong foundation of locally developed talent.

Experts agree that while naturalisation can provide short-term gains, long-term success depends on investing in youth development and creating a pipeline of homegrown players. As Southeast Asian nations dream of World Cup qualification, the challenge lies in balancing the immediate benefits of naturalisation with the need to inspire and develop local talent, ensuring that football remains a source of national pride and connection for fans.

Opinion:

When will Singapore be in the World Cup? I hope I can see it 😅. We've to make sports careers attractive for the upcoming generations.