The Annual Futsal Tournament for the Community in Kudus and Its Surrounding Regions
KUDUS – Since Friday evening (July 31, 2026), participants have begun arriving in Kudus. Some traveled several hours from Semarang, Salatiga, and Rembang. Many chose to rest immediately to prepare for the following day’s matches, while others took the opportunity to reconnect with long-time friends from various communities.
For these participants, the Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship 2026 – City Playoff is more than just a futsal tournament. This annual event has become a highly anticipated gathering, uniting European football fan clubs and university students from different regions in one city. While they compete as rivals on the court, they remain part of a shared futsal community off the pitch.
Throughout the two-day event on August 1–2, 2026, the Bung Karno Sports Hall in Kudus was buzzing with activity. Between matches, players were seen chatting, greeting one another, sharing stories about their community activities, and capturing moments together. While some met for the first time, many others seized the opportunity to reunite with friends from other cities.
A Highly Anticipated Community Event
For European football fan clubs, the Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship 2026 has become a staple on their annual calendar. The tournament serves not only as a venue to test their futsal skills but also to foster relationships between communities built through sports.
Saffana Firdaus of the Pena Real Madrid Indonesia (PRMI) Kudus Regional chapter noted that the community has been active since approximately 2010 with about 200 members. Futsal is a weekly routine for them, making the City Playoff an event that members always look forward to.
According to Firdaus, hosting the Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship 2026 – City Playoff in Kudus provided a unique experience, creating a competitive yet enjoyable atmosphere for both participants and spectators.
“PRMI Kudus was established around 2010 and has about 200 members. Our routine agenda is to play futsal once a week. I think this tournament is very well-organized; the atmosphere created by the crowd, the MC, and the venue itself is very satisfying compared to other cities. My hope is that the futsal scene in Kudus continues to thrive, remains united, and can compete with other regencies,” she said.
PRMI Kudus is no stranger to this competition. They were previously crowned champions of the 2024 Solo Regional and the 2025 City Playoff. However, for Firdaus, accolades are not the primary reason her community continues to participate. Tournaments like this offer a chance to maintain membership cohesion while expanding connections with other communities that share a common passion.
Rivals on the Court, Friends Off the Pitch
A similar sentiment was shared by Milanisti Indonesia Sezione Semarang. To participate in the Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship 2026 – City Playoff in Kudus, they chose to arrive a day before the matches began. The journey to Kudus was not just about the schedule; it was part of an experience they enjoyed together as a community.
Angga Hardiansyah, chairperson and official for Milanisti Sezione Semarang, said that the most memorable moments often occur off the pitch. Staying together, dining together, and chatting after matches provide opportunities to strengthen the bonds between members.
"This tournament has strengthened bonds between members and players. Staying together in Kudus was a highlight, as it fostered a strong sense of camaraderie. Furthermore, it allowed us to meet new people and reconnect with friends from other cities. The organization keeps improving, especially with the addition of a videotron live scoreboard at the court," he said.
According to Angga, each City Playoff features familiar faces from various regions. While some communities meet regularly at each tournament, new members also join, expanding the network between groups. These relationships extend beyond the matches, continuing through various futsal activities in their respective cities.
It is this atmosphere that distinguishes the Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship 2026 – City Playoff. On the court, teams compete intensely for victory, but once the match ends, rivalry gives way to casual conversation, photos, and information sharing about upcoming community events. They leave Kudus having gained not only competitive experience but also deeper connections with fellow futsal enthusiasts from across the region.
Students Gain Experience On and Off the Court
The Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship City Playoff also offers a unique experience for university participants. Beyond testing their futsal skills, the competition serves as a platform to meet students from various campuses who were previously known only through matches or social media.
M. Kanzul Karomi from the UIN Walisongo Semarang Futsal Student Activity Unit (UKM) believes such tournaments provide value beyond just competition. He noted that students can observe firsthand how a championship is managed professionally, while simultaneously broadening their professional network with participants from different areas.
"Through the Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship, we don't just learn about futsal; we learn event management and see how local SMEs thrive around the arena. Most importantly, it is about networking. We can meet and compete with friends from Kudus, Semarang, Salatiga, Jepara, and Rembang. The path is clear: from the Kudus City Playoff, one can advance to the Semarang Raya Regional Final and even to the national level," explained Kanzul.
Kanzul noted that every campus has its own training culture and style of play. Meeting participants from different regions provides an opportunity for mutual learning, both in terms of tactics and competitive experience.
Competition as a Gateway to Kudus
For many participants, the City Playoff serves as their first reason to visit Kudus. Among them is Dwiki Fahmi Rizal from the Universitas Wahid Hasyim (Unwahas) Semarang Futsal UKM, who traveled with his team to compete while also exploring a city he had never visited before.
Throughout the competition, Dwiki praised the tournament's orderly organization. He noted that the presence of dedicated Liaison Officers (LO) for each team made it easy for participants to access match schedules and technical support at the venue.
“The committee work is excellent, with LOs assigned to assist every team. The city atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. Although it was quite hot, we really enjoyed our time in Kudus. We even plan to try the local soto kerbau (buffalo meat soup) after the tournament. Events like this are crucial platforms for students to showcase their talents,” said Dwiki.
Dwiki’s experience highlights how sports competitions can serve as an introduction to a new region. Following the matches, he and his teammates plan to sample soto kerbau, a dish synonymous with Kudus. Such simple experiences become a meaningful part of the memories they take home beyond the match results.
Building Connections Beyond the Court
During breaks in the match schedule, participants took the opportunity to network with other communities, exchange experiences, and plan future tournament meetings. Conversations ranged from team training methods to sharing information about futsal competitions in their respective regions.
The area surrounding GOR Bung Karno became a hub for interaction, where participants, officials, and supporters gathered at food stalls and rest areas to enjoy the tournament atmosphere. This camaraderie is what makes the City Playoff stand out for many participants.
For returning teams, the City Playoff serves as a reunion for friends from different cities, while for newcomers, it marks the start of long-term connections that often continue through subsequent championships.
Leaving Kudus with Lasting Memories
Following two days of competition at the Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship 2026 – City Playoff in Kudus, participants have returned home with varied experiences. While some departed with victories and others faced early exits, most shared a common takeaway: the opportunity to forge new connections, expand networks, and discover a side of Kudus they had never encountered before.
For European football fan clubs, the Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship 2026 – City Playoff in Kudus served as a platform to strengthen long-standing bonds of camaraderie. For students, the tournament offered both a learning environment and a stage to showcase their skills. Meanwhile, for those visiting Kudus for the first time, the hospitality of the organizers, the seamless match-day services, and the chance to enjoy local culinary specialties left a lasting impression.
Ultimately, the Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship 2026 – City Playoff in Kudus did more than just bring teams together on the court; it united individuals who share the same passion and enthusiasm, creating memories that will endure long after they return to their respective cities. They depart Kudus not only with tournament results but also with new stories, expanded relationships, and a compelling reason to reunite at the next Supersoccer Euro Futsal Championship 2026 – City Playoff. (JMY/mainkekudus)
