2026/2027 League Cup Starts 3 November: PSMS vs Persija Opens New Competition
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- PSMS Medan akan menjamu Persija Jakarta pada laga pembuka League Cup 2026/2027 di Stadion Internasional Sumatra Utara, Deli Serdang, 3 November 2026.
- Turnamen ini menjadi pelengkap BRI Super League dan diikuti 38 klub dari dua kasta kompetisi domestik.
- Direktur Kompetisi I.League menyebut format dan jadwal sudah matang, meski tantangan terbesar adalah menyisipkan jadwal di tengah padatnya kalender.
PSMS Medan will host the opening match of the 2026/2027 League Cup when they welcome Persija Jakarta at the Sumatra Utara International Stadium in Deli Serdang on 3 November 2026. The match marks the return of an additional domestic tournament after a long absence and serves as a warm-up before the new BRI Super League season kicks off.
The League Cup is positioned as a companion competition to the 2026/2027 BRI Super League. This is the first time the tournament has been held since domestic competition went dormant in 2019. I.League Competition Director Asep Saputra confirmed the kick-off will go ahead as scheduled. "Insyaallah, on 3 November 2026 we will kick off the 2026/2027 League Cup," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday (27/10/2026).
According to Asep, preparations for the tournament have gone through thorough planning, including club meetings and the drafting of the format and match mechanisms. "I think we are on track, we are just getting ready. That includes the schedule, of course, we know the toughest challenge is fitting all of this in," he explained.
I.League confirmed that the League Cup will feature 38 teams divided into 12 groups. Each group contains three teams. PSMS and Persija are in Group A alongside Sumsel United. The format is designed to give clubs from various competition levels more match opportunities.
Asep stressed that the main purpose of the League Cup is to give playing time to players who have seen limited minutes and to provide an additional competition outside the BRI Super League and Pegadaian Championship. "Of course we must remember the original spirit behind the League Cup. Giving space to players who perhaps have had fewer minutes," he said. "Also giving teams the opportunity to compete or have a stage outside, not only in the competition," he added.
"Of course, from the schedule we have released, we also held socialization earlier that amid the congestion, both the BRI Super League and the Pegadaian Championship," Asep said.
Even so, the biggest challenge remains scheduling. With two main competitions already running, fitting the League Cup between them requires tight coordination. Asep said his side had socialized with the clubs from the start to avoid schedule clashes.
The return of the League Cup has been welcomed by the national football public. Asep hopes the tournament can serve as a platform for clubs to develop their squads and give young players match experience. "Hopefully this will also, I think, meet the hopes of the national football public," he said.
With less than a week to go before kick-off, all teams are expected to have completed their final preparations. The 2026/2027 League Cup is not only a season opener but also a test for competition organizers in managing a packed schedule. The success of this tournament will be an important indicator for the future development of domestic football.
