An international women's soccer tournament will anchor a series of events held in Kudus.
Kudus – Kudus Regency will host the International Women’s Soccer Trilogy in 2026. This tiered women's soccer development program features three primary pillars: the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars, the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026, and the Srikandi Merdeka Cup, an international tournament serving as the event's grand finale.
By utilizing a sustainable development model, the initiative provides competitive opportunities for young athletes while fostering talent from childhood through adolescence. The full program is scheduled to take place in Kudus from June to August 2026.
Program Director of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge and Hydroplus Soccer League, Teddy Tjahjono, stated that the International Women’s Soccer Trilogy was designed as a connected ecosystem for continuous development across all age groups.
“The Women's Soccer Trilogy is a sustainable development ecosystem we have built for players from childhood to their teens. This journey began about 2.5 years ago with the Milklife Soccer Challenge (MLSC), which started exclusively for U10 and U12 categories and has now expanded to include the U8 age group,” said Teddy Tjahjono.
Currently, the MilkLife Soccer Challenge is held in 12 cities, with two series per city. Next year, the competition is expected to expand to 16 cities, including two new locations in Papua Province.
The top performers from these regional competitions will be selected to participate in the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars as the next phase of their development.
The International Women’s Soccer Trilogy will kick off with the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars, scheduled for June 24–28, 2026, in Kudus, featuring top teams selected from various regions.
For the 2026 event, the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars will feature 12 teams competing in a 9-on-9 format. Each match will consist of two 15-minute halves with a 10-minute halftime break. All matches will be played on half-sized pitches, with six matches scheduled daily.
Prior to the tournament, participants will arrive and attend a welcome dinner from June 21–22, 2026. On June 23, the schedule includes pitch familiarization, a technical meeting, and a cultural visit. The competition will culminate in the final match on June 28, 2026.
Beyond soccer, organizers have planned supporting events, including coloring and drawing contests, the Seneng Soccer All Stars Festival, and various booths showcasing local small and medium enterprises (UMKM).
According to Teddy, the trilogy format was chosen because player development requires long-term continuity rather than a single event.
“We chose the trilogy format because player development cannot stop at a single tournament. Following the MilkLife Soccer Challenge (MLSC) for younger ages, we introduced the Hydroplus Soccer League (HPSL) for U15 and U18 players to provide a platform for growth during their teenage years. HPSL is the only age-group league format in Indonesia,” he said.
The subsequent stage is the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026, scheduled for July 5–12, 2026, in Kudus. This competition provides top-tier talent from the Hydroplus Soccer League with higher-level competitive experience.
The HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 will feature U15 and U18 categories. Eight teams will participate in each age group, utilizing 9-on-9 and 11-on-11 formats, depending on the category.
The HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 schedule begins with participant arrivals on July 3, 2026, followed by pitch familiarization and a technical meeting on July 4. The competition will run for seven match days, ending with the final on July 12, 2026.
Supporting events are also planned throughout the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026, including band performances, modern dance or cheerleading squads, and local UMKM booths to engage the community.
Teddy emphasized that the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars and the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 are critical components of the development pathway, as they bring together the best players from across the country.
"Through the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars and HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026, top players from various regions can meet, compete, and gain more competitive experience. This trilogy creates an interconnected development pathway from one level to the next," he said.
The climax of the International Women’s Soccer Trilogy will take place during the Srikandi Merdeka Cup, scheduled for August 13–19, 2026, at the Super Soccer Arena in Kudus.
This international tournament is designed as a development platform for the Women's National Team and a stage for nurturing young talent ahead of the AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Top athletes selected from the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 will represent the Women's National Team in the tournament.
"In the next stage, the best female athletes from the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 will represent the Women's National Team at the international Srikandi Merdeka Cup, held at the Super Soccer Arena in Kudus from August 13-19, 2026," said Teddy.
The Srikandi Merdeka Cup is set to run throughout August 2026, with an official agenda beginning with the arrival of participants on August 11–12, official training on August 13, and the final match on August 23, 2026.
The tournament is part of Indonesia's independence celebrations, featuring an international women’s soccer competition that brings together athletes from various countries. Beyond the matches, organizers have planned supporting events, including neighborhood gate competitions, an independence parade, fan contests, MSME bazaars, and musical entertainment at the Super Soccer Arena.
Kudus Regent Sam'ani Intakoris welcomed the decision to host the International Women’s Soccer Trilogy in Kudus Regency, noting that hosting national and international-scale women's soccer events could provide an economic boost to the region.
"Sports tourism in Kudus Regency can continue to grow. MSMEs, hotels, and vehicle rental services will all benefit. We thank the Djarum Foundation for organizing this event in Kudus," said Sam'ani.
He also urged the public to support the success of the international tournament by being gracious hosts to participants and guests from around the world.
"This is an international tournament featuring over six countries. Let us work together to be excellent hosts, welcoming foreign guests with courtesy and maintaining safety and order throughout the competition," he said.
Organizers aim for the International Women’s Soccer Trilogy to serve not only as a competition but also as a foundation for the long-term development of Indonesian women's soccer.
"Our goal is to build a strong foundation for Indonesian women's soccer through sustainable and structured competitions. In the medium term, the best players from the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 U-16 division will represent Indonesia at the Srikandi Merdeka Cup, which will feature seven countries, as part of preparations for the AFC selections in October 2026," Teddy explained.
He added that the program is aimed at preparing a generation of players capable of competing at the Asian level in the future.
"In the long term, we want to prepare a generation of players who can make Indonesia more competitive at the Asian level, including looking toward the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2031. Therefore, the Women's Soccer Trilogy is not just about the tournament; it is about building the future of Indonesian women's soccer," he said.
Through the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars, HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars, and Srikandi Merdeka Cup, Kudus is set to become an integrated hub for girls' soccer development. The initiative aims to establish a sustainable player pathway while providing young Indonesian athletes with competitive experience at an international level.
Kudus Regent Sam’ani Intakoris welcomed the selection of the city as the host for these national and international girls' soccer events. He noted that the arrival of thousands of athletes, officials, and supporters will provide a significant economic boost to the region, benefiting MSMEs, the hospitality sector, transportation services, and local tourism destinations.
“Sport tourism in Kudus Regency is poised for further growth. MSMEs, hotels, and vehicle rental services will all benefit. We extend our gratitude to the Djarum Foundation for hosting these activities in Kudus,” he said.
He added that the Kudus Regency Government has made extensive preparations to welcome participants and guests from across the country and abroad. Beyond supporting local businesses, the hotel sector has been readied to accommodate the needs of athletes and supporters throughout the tournament.
“We have coordinated with a number of hotels in Kudus and the surrounding areas to welcome approximately 1,500 athletes, officials, and supporters. We are confident in our capacity. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce our guests to the culinary scene, tourism, and the hospitality of the people of Kudus,” he stated.
The Srikandi Merdeka Cup International will feature teams from seven countries:
• Indonesia (2 teams)
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Hong Kong
• Saudi Arabia
• Jordan
The tournament serves as an international platform for female soccer players representing their respective nations.
Participants will compete in a series of matches throughout their stay in Kudus. Beyond the competition itself, the tournament is now a fixture on the city’s girls' soccer calendar.
This international presence provides a valuable opportunity for Indonesian players to face teams from abroad in a formal match environment.
All matches are scheduled to take place at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus. In recent years, the stadium has hosted various girls' soccer activities, ranging from youth-level tournaments to high-level competitions.
Djarum Foundation representative Slamet Raharjo estimated that the U-16 Srikandi Merdeka Cup will attract around 500 participants. When accounting for the entire series—including the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars, HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars, and the Srikandi Merdeka Cup—the total number of athletes visiting Kudus is expected to reach between 1,000 and 1,500, excluding supporters.
“When you calculate the total from the MilkLife All Stars, HYDROPLUS All Stars, and the Srikandi Merdeka Cup, we expect between 1,000 and 1,500 participants to come to Kudus, not including the supporters,” he said.
Slamet confirmed that Indonesia will field two teams: Team Garuda Pertiwi and Team Putri Nusantara.
According to Slamet, the choice of Kudus as the host for the International Women’s Soccer Trilogy is deeply rooted in the history of girls' soccer development fostered by the Djarum Foundation’s sports wing in the city.
The selection of Kudus aligns with the series of girls' soccer programs that have been held in the region previously.
In addition to international matches, various youth development programs and competitions have taken place in Kudus over the past several years, drawing participants from across Indonesia.
The International Women’s Soccer Trilogy is structured as a series of interconnected events focused on girls' soccer, executed in progressive stages.
The Srikandi Merdeka Cup is a key component of this series, introducing international competition while expanding the schedule of girls' soccer events in Indonesia.
Organizers hope the events will run according to schedule and provide meaningful competitive experience for all participants involved.
In recent years, women's football competitions and events have returned to various regions across Indonesia. From youth tournaments and school-level competitions to international matches, these initiatives are part of a broader effort to provide more competitive opportunities for female athletes.
Kudus has become a consistent host for women's football through various programs and competitions. The introduction of the International Women’s Soccer Trilogy further expands the region's sporting calendar.
By hosting international tournaments, local communities have the opportunity to watch competitive women's football matches featuring participants from multiple nations.
The Srikandi Merdeka Cup International marks the arrival of an inter-country women's football tournament in Kudus. Featuring teams from six nations, the event is part of the International Women’s Soccer Trilogy hosted in the city.
The tournament, held at the Supersoccer Arena, features teams from various countries. This international event bolsters Kudus’s sports calendar and contributes to a year-round schedule of women's football activities.
For the athletes, the tournament offers vital international match experience. For the public, it provides a unique chance to witness women's football from around the globe at a single venue.