The opening match of the 2026 President's Cup officially got underway at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung Regency, on Saturday (25/7/2026). This prestigious pre-season tournament was officially opened by the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Muhammad Tito Karnavian along with several state officials and national football figures, marked by Persib Bandung's narrow 1-0 victory over Arema FC.
Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian expressed high optimism that this tournament is not just an entertainment stage for domestic football lovers, but also a strategic instrument to drive the local economy. The presence of tens of thousands of supporters is deemed to create a real multiplier effect for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) around the stadium area.
Echoing the Minister's sentiments, the Chairman of the 2026 President's Cup Steering Committee, who also serves as the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP), Maruarar Sirait, appreciated the management of the MSME area, which was much neater and more representative. This year's tournament also offers a greater attraction with an increase in the total prize for the champion to Rp6 billion, up from Rp5.5 billion in the previous edition.
On the green pitch, the classic duel between Persib Bandung and Arema FC presented a fierce atmosphere in front of around 23,000 spectators. Maung Bandung successfully secured their first three points thanks to a single goal from Brazilian striker Uilliam Barros in the 24th minute. Barros capitalized on a well-delivered pass from Berguinho with a clever backheel flick that Arema goalkeeper Adi Satryo failed to anticipate.
This match was also an emotional debut for Persib's new signing from Montenegro, Balsa Sekulic. Although happy with his team's victory, the 26-year-old striker admitted to being quite disappointed for missing a golden opportunity to score his first goal. However, he committed to continuing to improve his performance to help Persib in subsequent matches.
In addition to being an economic stimulus, Tito Karnavian emphasized the importance of the President's Cup as a crucible for scouting national football talents. Consistent youth development through tournaments like this is expected to supply quality talent to strengthen the Indonesian National Team so that they are ready to compete on the world stage in the future.
