KUDUS – The youth girls' soccer development program series, titled Women’s Soccer Trilogy 2026, has officially commenced with the MilkLife Soccer Challenge (MLSC) All Stars 2026. Ahead of the national tournament, organizers hosted a gala dinner and group drawing on Monday evening (June 21, 2026) at the Hotel Sapphire in Kudus, Central Java.
The event served as a final preparation for the players before they compete on the national stage. In addition to introducing the participating teams, the event determined the group compositions that will shape the tournament's competitive landscape.
The MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars 2026 is scheduled for June 23–28, 2026, at the Supersoccer Arena, Kudus. A total of 12 cities will send All Stars teams to compete in the event: All Stars Surabaya, All Stars Jakarta, All Stars Malang, All Stars Samarinda, All Stars Solo, All Stars Yogyakarta, All Stars Semarang, All Stars Banjarmasin, All Stars Kudus, All Stars Bandung, All Stars Tangerang, and All Stars Bekasi.
Teddy Tjahjono, Program Director of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge and Hydroplus Soccer League, stated that this year’s MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars has expanded significantly compared to previous editions, particularly in terms of the number of participants.
According to Tjahjono, the tournament featured eight cities last year, but the field has grown to 12 this year with the inclusion of Bekasi, Malang, Samarinda, and Banjarmasin.
“The primary difference is the number of participants. We had eight cities last year, and this year that has increased to 12 with the addition of Bekasi, Malang, Samarinda, and Banjarmasin,” Tjahjono said on the sidelines of the event.
This increase in participation will lead to a higher volume of matches during the competition. A total of 192 young female players are registered to compete in the national tournament.
Beyond competing for the national title, the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars 2026 serves as a vital development pathway for young athletes. Players who demonstrate exceptional performance will have the opportunity to participate in the international The SingaCup tournament in Singapore, scheduled for early November 2026.
Teddy explained that each All Stars team representing a participating city is formed through a tiered selection process, which begins with regional competitions held in each host city.
In every city, regular matches are conducted across two series. Throughout these competitions, talent scouts monitor the players to identify those with the potential for further development.
Selected players then enroll in a specialized supplementary training program titled MilkLife Soccer Extra Training. This program provides further coaching before players are finalized as their respective regional representatives for the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars 2026 national round in Kudus.
According to Teddy, the existence of continuous training and competition programs offers players a structured environment to hone their skills.
"The quality of play has clearly improved this year because players now have access to structured training and competition," he said.
He added that organizers plan to expand the program in the next season by adding three new cities, bringing the total number of host cities to 15.
The MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars 2026 is part of a broader, long-term development initiative under the Women’s Soccer Trilogy 2026 in Kudus.
Following the conclusion of the U-12 MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars, the development series will continue with the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars for U-15 and U-18 age groups, scheduled for July 2026. The program will conclude with the international Srikandi Merdeka Cup U-16 tournament in August 2026.
Through this framework, organizers aim to provide a continuous development pathway for female footballers across various age groups, ensuring that players who finish one category can seamlessly progress to the next level.
Teddy noted that the HYDROPLUS Soccer League will utilize a full double round-robin format for the U-15 and U-18 categories, which will also serve as a scouting platform to identify talent for upcoming events.
"Through the HYDROPLUS Soccer League, U-15 and U-18 players will compete in a full double round-robin format. From this league, scouts will select the best talent to form two national U-16 women's teams that will compete in the Srikandi Merdeka Cup against teams from seven participating nations," he explained.
The development program, covering age groups of 8, 10, 12, 15, and 18, is designed to ensure continuity in the growth of female soccer athletes. According to Teddy, a sustainable development pathway is a critical component in building a women's soccer ecosystem from an early age.
He noted that an integrated program allows players to continue developing within their respective age brackets, ensuring that training does not cease after completing a single level of competition.
Beyond player development, organizers hope the established ecosystem will foster broader collaborative opportunities with various stakeholders.
"This integrated ecosystem is expected to attract greater interest from the private sector and corporations to contribute to the advancement of national women's soccer," Teddy stated.
With the staging of the MilkLife Soccer Challenge All Stars 2026, Kudus once again serves as a hub for youth women's soccer, bringing together players from across Indonesia. The tournament marks the initial step in the 2026 Women's Soccer Trilogy, a series designed to provide a sustainable development pathway for female players across various age groups. (FTR/mainkekdus)