Jakarta. Midfielder Luke Anthony Vickery has officially become an Indonesian citizen after taking the oath of allegiance at the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney on Thursday, becoming the latest diaspora footballer eligible to represent the national team as Indonesia intensifies its naturalization program ahead of its 2030 FIFA World Cup ambitions.

Law Minister Supratman Andi Agtas, conveying a message from President Prabowo Subianto, said Vickery is expected to help Indonesia qualify for the 2030 World Cup, describing the naturalization as part of the government's broader effort to strengthen the Garuda squad.

"I hope Luke will fight alongside his teammates to realize President Prabowo Subianto's and the Indonesian people's dream of reaching the 2030 World Cup," Supratman said.

The 19-year-old, who currently plays for Macarthur FC in Australia's A-League, said he was committed to helping Indonesia achieve that goal. Born in Kailua, Hawaii, Vickery is eligible for Indonesian citizenship through his grandmother, who was born in Medan.

Vickery's naturalization follows that of Australia-born striker Mitchell Lee Baker, who became an Indonesian citizen earlier this week. Baker, who plays for Georgetown University in the United States, has Indonesian ancestry through his grandparents from Yogyakarta and Semarang.

Indonesia has increasingly recruited footballers of Indonesian descent from overseas to strengthen its national team, a strategy the government says complements the development of domestic talent as the country seeks to become one of Asia's leading football nations.

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