Naturalized players flood Southeast Asian tournaments, challenging Vietnam women's team

Philippines has the most naturalized players

The Philippines is the team with the most naturalized players in the 2025 AFF Women's Championship. Of the 23 Filipino players coming to Vietnam this time, 18 were born outside the Philippines, most of them born in the US.

Also among the 23 Filipino players participating in this year's tournament, there are 10 who are playing football abroad, including 9 players playing in the US and one player playing football in England.

Cầu thủ nhập tịch tràn ngập giải Đông Nam Á, thách thức tuyển nữ Việt Nam - 1 — American-born player Hali Long, captain of the Philippine women's team (Photo: PFF).

The Philippines women's national soccer team's U.S.-based players include defender Malae Cesar (Trinity Tigers), Azumi Oka (UNC Greensboro Spartans), Aaliyah Schinaman (George Mason Patriots), Aliana Weibel (Kent State Golden Fries), midfielder Isabella Alamo (Houston Christian Huskies), Jaycee DeFazio (Cal Poly Mustangs), Tae Pidding (Del Norte High School), Adelaide Wyrzynski (Tarleton State Texans) and forward Nina Mathelus (Thayer Academy).

The only Filipino player currently playing in England is goalkeeper Nina Meollo (Ipswich Town FC). With such a large group of naturalized players, the Philippine women’s team’s physique, fitness and playing style are probably not different from that of the US team.

Indonesia and Thailand follow suit

The team with the second most naturalized players in the 2025 Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship is Indonesia. The Indonesian women's team has a total of 7 players born outside of Indonesia, 6 of whom were born in the Netherlands and one in the United States.

Indonesian naturalized Dutch players include goalkeeper Iris Joska de Rouw (20 years old, 1.75m, St John's Red Storm Club, USA), center back Emily Nahon (18 years old, 1.75m, Little Rock Soccer Club, USA), full back Noa Leatomu (22 years old, 1.67m, VfR Warbeyen Club, Germany), midfielder Felicia de Zeeuw (19 years old, 1.70m, ADO Den Haag Club, Netherlands), winger Isa Warps (20 years old, 1.76m, NAC Breda Club, Netherlands) and Estella Loupatty (22 years old, 1.61m, Zulte Waregem Club, Belgium).

Cầu thủ nhập tịch tràn ngập giải Đông Nam Á, thách thức tuyển nữ Việt Nam - 2 — The Thai women's team has two players born in the US (Photo: FAT).

The naturalized American player of the Indonesian women's team is attacking midfielder Sydney Hopper (18 years old, 1m73, DBU Women's Soccer Club, USA).

There are 11 Indonesian players playing abroad, including four in the US, two in the Netherlands, two in Philippine clubs, one in Germany, one in Belgium and one in Japan.

Meanwhile, the Thai women's team has two naturalized players, both born in the US, including midfielder Julie Gronning (18 years old, Wasatch SC Club, USA) and striker Madison Casteen (18 years old, NC Courage Academy team, USA).

Thailand and Indonesia will be in Group A with the Vietnamese women's football team, along with Cambodia. The Philippines will be in Group B with Myanmar, Timor Leste and U23 Australia. The Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship will take place from August 6 to August 19, at Lach Tray Stadium ( Hai Phong ) and Viet Tri Stadium (Phu Tho).