RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is positioning itself as a gateway for young football talent to reach the global stage as the country is hosting the Southeast Asia Qualifiers for the U12 Junior Soccer World Challenge 2026 at Gelanggang Mahasiswa Soemantri Brodjonegoro Stadium from June 5-7, 2026.

Titled the Agung Podomoro Land Cup, the tournament offers a significant opportunity for football academies and soccer schools across Indonesia to compete for a place in the U12 Junior Soccer World Challenge 2026 finals in Chiba, Japan, one of Asia’s most prestigious youth tournaments, regularly featuring top global club academies.

“We envision this tournament as a global stage where young players develop not only as athletes, but also as individuals,” President and CEO of Amazing Sports Lab Japan Inc. and NARA Club, Mitsuru Hamada, said on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

A total of 24 teams from Indonesia and abroad will compete in a 7-a-side format. The top team from the qualifiers will receive an official invitation to compete in Japan in August 2026, facing elite teams in an international competition environment.

The champion will not only secure a spot in Japan but will also receive full support from organizers, including round-trip flights from Jakarta to Tokyo (Haneda), accommodation, meals, and domestic transportation. These benefits will cover 18 players and five team officials.

The three-day tournament will feature a group stage followed by knockout rounds, with each team playing six matches consisting of two halves of 15 minutes each.

Several players who previously participated in this competition have gone on to become professional footballers representing top clubs and national teams, including Lamine Yamal and Gavi at FC Barcelona, Takefusa Kubo at Real Sociedad, and Xavi Simons, currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur.

Major European clubs such as Manchester City, Liverpool FC, and Arsenal FC have also participated in the tournament.

Hosting the qualifiers for the first time marks an important milestone for youth football development in Indonesia, providing academies with closer access to regional competition and a pathway to global exposure.

The competition is open to players born between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2015, with a registration fee of USD 250 (approximately IDR 4.3 million) per team. ***