The Indonesian National Team will compete against Japan in the continuation of Group C of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in the Asian Zone. The match will be held on November 15 at the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium, Jakarta. One of the interesting things about the National Team's match this time is the presence of the diaspora. I
Indonesia has a number of players who compete in European and Asian leagues. The 14 diaspora players have the opportunity to strengthen the national team's defense in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualification for the Asian Zone. Who would have thought, 10 of the players are alumni of the 2023 Asian Cup, including Elkan Baggott, Jordi Amat, Sandy Walsh, Marselino Ferdinan, Rafael Struick, Asnawi Mangkualam, Pratama Arhan, Shayne Pattynama, Ivar Jenner, and Justin Hubner.
During training in Indonesia, these diaspora players often taste various kinds of local Indonesian food. Some even claim to have their own favorite food. Not many people know that local food in Indonesia also suits the tongues of diaspora players.
Curious about the favorite foods of a number of Indonesian National Team diaspora players? Come on, check out the review further, BrilioFood summarized from various sources on Friday (11/15).
YouTube/FC Twente
Mees Hilgers admitted that he loves eating soto ayam made by his mother who comes from Manado. In addition, he also loves eating other typical Indonesian foods, such as rendang, rawon, and salted eggs.
YouTube/TIMNAS TV
There is also Thom Haye who claims to like eating meatballs and satay. These two foods are the 29-year-old player's favorite culinary.
Instagram/@jayidzes
Satay is also one of Jay Idzes' favorite foods. But he also admits to enjoying other local foods, such as fried rice and gado-gado.
Instagram/@welber07official
This is different from Welber Jardim, which actually has yellow rice as one of its favorite local Indonesian foods.
YouTube/Kapal Api
There are also diaspora players who actually like Indonesian snacks. One of them is Nathan Tjoe-A-On who admitted to liking sweet dadar gulung.
Facebook/Ojek jalanan
Ivar Jenner admitted that his favorite local foods are lemper, fried rice, bika ambon, and chicken soto.
Facebook/Ojek jalanan
Dutch-born player Justin Hubner actually admitted that he likes eating siomay and meatballs.
Instagram/@c.verdonk;freepik.com
Many diaspora players also choose fried rice as one of their favorite local foods, including Acehnese player, Calvin Verdonk.
Instagram/@s.pattynama;freepik.com
Meanwhile, Shayne Pattynama firmly chose soto ayam when asked about his favorite Indonesian food.