Following men's football, national teams are naturalizing players en masse.
The Philippine women's team uses mostly players born in Australia, Canada, the US, and Norway. In the list of 24 Philippine players who met Taiwan in early June, there were... 22 naturalized players, including 16 players playing abroad and 8 players playing domestically. 9 Filipino players currently play for clubs in the US (the country with the world's No. 1 women's football). 4 players are playing in Canada (the country whose women's team is the champion of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics). 1 Filipino player is playing in Sweden (with a team that won the 2023 Women's World Cup, a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and later won the EURO 1984). In addition, the Philippine women's team also has 2 players playing in Australia (the country whose team won the Asian Cup in 2010 and reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup).
The Thai women's football team is also preparing a very strong squad for the Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship (hosted by Vietnam in August in Hai Phong and Phu Tho) and the 33rd SEA Games in late 2025 in Thailand. These include goalkeeper Tiffany Sornpao, born in the US, 27 years old, 1.7 m tall, currently playing for Brondby Club (Denmark). Defender Matilda Pailin (19 years old, born in Sweden, playing for Varbergs BoIS Club), striker Madison Casteen (17 years old, born in the US, playing for North Carolina Academy), Sangjun Mai (a player of mixed American and Thai descent).
Thai national team player Sangjun Mai is of mixed American and Thai descent.
PHOTO: FOOTBALL FEDERATION OF THAILAND
A few days ago, Southeast Asian audiences were surprised when the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) announced the list of the country's women's team with a series of very new faces. With the goal of winning tickets to the 2026 World Cup, PSSI has massively naturalized male players into the Indonesian team and also to achieve good results in the 2026 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers, the 2025 Southeast Asian Women's Championship and the 33rd SEA Games, this country has also naturalized many female players. Among them, 6 players are playing in the Netherlands, including defender Emily Nahon (ADO Den Haag Club), Isabel Kopp (Fortuna Sittard), Pauline van de Pol (Telstar); midfielder Felicia de Zeeuw (ADO Den Haag), Isa Warps (NAC Breda) and Isabelle Nottet (Telstar). In addition, there are 2 players playing in the US, including goalkeeper Iris de Rouw (St. John's Red Storm) and striker Sydney Hopper (Dallas Baptist Patriots). 1 player playing in Japan is striker Zahra Muzdalifah (Cerezo Osaka). 3 players are playing in the Philippines: defender Gea Yumanda, midfielder Sheva Imut and Nasywa Setira (all of Makati Club). 1 player playing in Belgium is striker Estella Loupatty (Zulte Waregem Club).
The Vietnamese women's team has only one naturalized player, Vietnamese-Canadian player Nguyen Hoang Nam Mi (born in 2003). Coach Mai Duc Chung and his team are preparing to face a large number of naturalized players in the region. The challenge will be huge and we must prepare appropriate countermeasures against these opponents.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bong-da-nu-dong-nam-a-tran-ngap-cau-thu-nhap-tich-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-lam-the-kho-185250616212157495.htm
Comment (0)