France–Indonesia Partnership Aims to Elevate Women’s Football

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The French Football Federation (FFF) has underlined its collaboration with the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) as a gateway to developing women’s football in the country, starting from grassroots and youth levels.

“The main goal of this cooperation for women’s football is to open doors. This is the first step,” FFF’s Head of International Relations, Ludovic Debru, said during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

As part of the collaboration, PSSI and the FFF are conducting youth football development programs in Bandung, West Java, alongside coaching clinics for trainers and officials.

In addition, 20 young players and eight officials will be sent to France’s national training center and football academy in Clairefontaine from May 3-9. The group will include graduates of the Hydro Plus Program and members of the Indonesian U-17 women’s national team.

They are scheduled to undergo six training sessions and play trial matches against academy teams selected by FFF.

Ludovic emphasized that development is a continuous process. “What matters is to begin,” he said, noting that the cooperation is designed to create as many development programs as possible, ranging from grassroots training and coach education to understanding the broader conditions of football in Indonesia.

He added that the opportunity for Indonesian players to train at Clairefontaine will provide valuable exposure. By experiencing international-level preparation, young athletes will be better equipped to handle the pressures of global competition without being overwhelmed.

“It is very interesting for us to understand how football is managed in Indonesia,” Ludovic remarked, highlighting FFF’s interest in mutual knowledge exchange. ***