Jakarta. Indonesia’s national football team under-17 head coach Nova Arianto has signaled he is open to adding more diaspora players as the national team prepares for the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup.

At present, Nicholas Indra Mjoesund is the only diaspora player on the team. Nova said players of Indonesian descent who have developed abroad could bring added quality, particularly in terms of technical ability and match experience.

Indonesia is targeting at least a quarterfinal finish at the Asian Cup, a result that would secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar. Before the continental tournament, the team will also compete in the ASEAN U-17 Championship, which Indonesia is set to host.

“That is what we are evaluating, so that our tradition of qualifying for the World Cup can be maintained,” Nova said.

The coach said the door remains open to adding diaspora players following two international friendly matches against China U-17, which are being used as part of the evaluation process. In the first match, played at Indomilk Arena in Tangerang, Banten, on Sunday, Indonesia suffered a 0–7 defeat.

Nova rejected suggestions that the heavy loss was due to a lack of team chemistry, adding that most players have been training and competing together for an extended period. He said assessments are ongoing and will consider performances in friendlies, overall squad balance, and positional needs.

“We are observing these two matches and will assess whether we need to add new players, look for more diaspora players, or arrange additional international friendlies,” Nova told reporters after the match.

Any final decisions, he added, will be made in consultation with Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto, who has recently joined the coaching staff.

The core of the squad is drawn from Garuda United U-18, which competes in Indonesia’s Elite Pro Academy (EPA) U-18 league. The team currently tops the standings with 55 points from 22 matches, scoring 62 goals and conceding 15.

“They have been working together for about five months and are accustomed to the EPA level, but the intensity and pressure of international matches are clearly different,” Nova said.

He stressed that facing stronger international opponents is essential for player development, particularly in learning how to cope with high pressing and faster decision-making.

“That is what we want the players to learn from these matches — how to escape pressure and make better decisions. That is what we are evaluating,” he said.

Nova also confirmed that all 28 players called up will be given playing time in the second friendly against China, scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Indomilk Arena.

“We will try all the players we have so we can properly assess them,” he said.

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