The prestigious pre-season football tournament, the 2026 President's Cup, has officially kicked off after being opened directly by the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung Regency, West Java. The championship is expected not only to be a magnet of entertainment for local football fans but also to serve as a real stimulus for the revival of the people's economy.
During the opening, Minister Tito Karnavian emphasized the importance of the multiplier effect of the sports sector on the local economy. According to him, the high public enthusiasm for football represents a major opportunity for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) around the match venue to increase their income.
Beyond the economic aspect, this competition is also projected as a strategic platform to scout talented young prospects. Tito is optimistic that nurturing athletes through consistent, high-quality tournaments will strengthen the foundation of the Indonesian National Team (Timnas) and even pave the way to the World Cup stage in the future.
The ceremonial kick-off was performed by the Minister of Home Affairs alongside several key figures, including the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait, PSSI President Erick Thohir, Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman, Governor of West Java Dedi Mulyadi, and Persib Bandung Manager Umuh Muchtar.
Echoing the Minister's sentiments, Maruarar Sirait, acting as the Chairman of the 2026 President's Cup Steering Committee, appreciated the improved quality of this year's event, including the increase in the total winner's prize money to Rp6 billion. The commercial zone for MSMEs around the stadium is also deemed much more organized and representative to welcome the attending spectators.
