PSSI Appoints East Java as Host of 2026 AFF U-17 Championship

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has moved the venue for the 2026 AFF Under-17 Championship to East Java, citing stadium facilities in East Kalimantan that do not yet meet international standards, officials announced Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Speaking in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi said that matches will be centralized at two main venues: Stadion Gelora Joko Samudera in Gresik and Stadion Gelora Delta in Sidoarjo.

According to Yunus, stadium facilities in East Kalimantan currently fall short of standards set by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). The main issue identified is lighting.

“The primary problem is lighting. At Segiri Stadium, illumination is only around 900 lux, while the minimum standard for AFF international matches is 1,200 lux,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Upgrading the lighting system would require significant time, while PSSI faces tight deadlines to confirm the host venue with the AFC. With the tournament set for late April 2026, the group-stage draw is scheduled for March 6.

Although East Kalimantan will not host the AFF U-17 event, Yunus stressed that the region remains in consideration for other international fixtures. It is projected to host AFC Cup qualifiers, a friendly match involving Indonesia’s U-19 national team in September, and the invitational Piala Kemerdekaan tournament.

He added that Indonesia’s U-17 and U-19 national teams are scheduled to hold training camps at Nusantara Capital City (IKN), where three international-standard training fields, featuring both natural and synthetic grass, are already available.

PSSI has urged the East Kalimantan provincial administration and the Samarinda city administration to accelerate improvements at Batakan, Segiri, and Palaran Stadiums, to ensure they meet FIFA standards.

“Technically, Batakan Stadium is already very good and poses no issues. However, Palaran Stadium still requires significant technical improvements, particularly at the ends of the pitch,” Yunus added.

PSSI’s decision to stage national team matches across various regions reflects a commitment by its executive committee to bring the “Garuda” squad closer to fans nationwide, allowing more Indonesians to watch the team compete in person. ***