Taisei Marukawa arrived in Bali on Monday to join the Timnas Indonesia training camp, CNN Indonesia reported. Head coach John Herdman called up the Dewa United midfielder as the squad prepares for upcoming international fixtures.
Sumardji, the head of the National Team Body, confirmed the arrival of Marukawa alongside Mees Hilgers and other players traveling from the Netherlands. The team gathered in Bali despite the cancellation of the FIFA Matchday window originally scheduled for November 9 through November 17, 2026.
Marukawa is currently pursuing Indonesian citizenship through the five-year consecutive residency route. VIVA.co.id reported that the player estimated his naturalization would finish within two weeks, opening a path toward potential selection for the senior squad.
If the paperwork concludes in time, Marukawa could feature for Indonesia at the upcoming continental tournament in Saudi Arabia. The Asian Football Confederation scheduled the event to run from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
If the process of naturalization runs smoothly and I am chosen to enter the national team, I will be very happy,
Marukawa told ILeague regarding his international ambitions.
🇮🇩🇯🇵 JAPANESE-BORN TAISEI MARUKAWA CALLED UP TO INDONESIA NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING CAMP! Japanese midfielder Taisei Marukawa (29) has been invited to join Indonesia's senior national team for their November training camp in Bali! pic.twitter.com/PGm9xz63Q1
The current training camp in Bali runs through November 17, 2026, serving as an alternative preparation period after security concerns in the Middle East canceled a planned friendly against Jordan. Sumardji explained that Herdman wants to evaluate the newly arriving midfielder directly.
John wants to know how Marukawa plays and how to unite himself together in the team so that the chemistry is there,
Sumardji said, according to ANTARA News.
Marukawa previously expressed a desire to partner with teammates like Egy Maulana Vikri if selected for the squad. The player also stated an ambition to target tournament success at the continental level once his change of federation clears.
Marukawa arrived on Monday to join the training camp.
Timnas Indonesia held the seven-day camp in Bali after an international friendly against Jordan scheduled for the November 2026 FIFA Matchday was canceled due to regional security considerations.
The squad is preparing for the tournament in Saudi Arabia scheduled by the AFC to run from January 7 to February 5, 2027.
Worth a look