The province of North Sumatra has officially been selected as the host for the ASEAN U-19 Championship 2026. The Southeast Asian youth football tournament is scheduled to take place from June 1 to June 14, 2026, and will be participated in by countries that are members of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).
The appointment of North Sumatra as the host is part of the strategy of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to expand the organization of international competitions across various regions. So far, many major football events have mostly been held on the island of Java. Through this policy, PSSI aims to provide opportunities for other regions to experience the atmosphere of international tournaments.
The decision is stated in an official PSSI letter numbered 1057/UDN/623/III-2026 sent to the Governor of North Sumatra, Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution. The letter confirms that North Sumatra is considered ready to host the ASEAN U-19 Championship 2026.
PSSI Encourages Equal Distribution of International Football Events
PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir stated that equal distribution of football events is an important part of developing the sport in Indonesia. According to him, every region should have the same opportunity to be involved in international football activities.
“Football belongs to all Indonesian people. We want to provide opportunities for various regions to become part of hosting international events. North Sumatra has shown good readiness and support,” said Erick Thohir in Jakarta on Friday (March 13, 2026), as quoted from the official PSSI website.
He added that the selection of North Sumatra was not a sudden decision. PSSI had previously assessed several aspects of the region’s readiness, including sports infrastructure, supporting facilities, as well as support from the local government and the community.
One of the important considerations was North Sumatra’s success in hosting the Independence Cup in 2025. The tournament featured several U-17 national teams, namely Indonesia, Tajikistan, Mali, and Uzbekistan.
The event was part of the preparation program for the Indonesian national team ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 held in Qatar. The tournament was successfully organized and received positive responses from various parties, including participating teams and spectators who attended the matches at the stadium.
According to Erick, the success of that event became an important reference for PSSI in determining the host for the next tournament.
“The previous success has become an important reference. We see readiness in terms of facilities and community support,” said Erick.
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Stadiums and Training Facilities Under Inspection
To ensure that all preparations meet international standards, PSSI has also conducted inspections of several stadiums and training facilities that will be used during the tournament. The inspection was carried out from February 25 to February 27, 2026.
The inspection team was led by PSSI Executive Committee member Arya Sinulingga along with several federation representatives. They reviewed various sports facilities prepared as match venues and training grounds for participating teams.
Several stadiums proposed as match venues include the North Sumatra Main Stadium, Teladan Stadium, and Mini Pancing Stadium. These stadiums are considered to have adequate capacity and facilities to host international matches.
In addition to the main stadiums, several fields have also been prepared as training facilities for the participating teams. These include Mini Pancing Stadium, North Sumatra Madya Stadium 1, North Sumatra Madya Stadium 2, the North Sumatra PPLP Field, and the Cadika Medan Field.
These training facilities are expected to support the needs of participating teams during the competition. In addition, the relatively accessible locations of the fields are also considered an advantage for the smooth running of the tournament.
PSSI also revealed that a follow-up inspection by the AFF is scheduled for April 2026. The visit aims to ensure that all prepared facilities fully meet the standards required to host an international tournament.
By hosting the ASEAN U-19 Championship 2026 in North Sumatra, it is expected to bring positive impacts on the development of football in the region. In addition, the tournament also has the potential to boost the local economy, particularly in tourism, hospitality, and small and medium enterprises.
The presence of thousands of supporters, team officials, and guests from various countries is expected to provide economic benefits for the local community. On the other hand, the tournament will also serve as momentum for North Sumatra to demonstrate its capability as a region capable of hosting international sporting events.
Through the preparations being carried out by PSSI together with the local government, North Sumatra is expected to successfully host the ASEAN U-19 Championship 2026 while also providing the best competitive experience for young football players in Southeast Asia.
