John Herdman Welcomes the Rise of Indonesia's Women's League, Optimistic That Its Quality Will Keep Improving

Jakarta - The return of the Indonesia Women's League, suspended since 2019, marks a critical momentum for women's Football Development across the country. Indonesia National Team Head Coach John Herdman has positively welcomed the kickoff of the Indonesia Women's League (IWL) 2026/2027, and expressed optimism that player quality will continuously improve through this sustained competitive structure.

Herdman attended the official competition opening in person, which featured the opening fixture between Persija Jakarta Women against FC Bekasi City Women at Madya Stadium, Gelora Bung Karno Complex, Jakarta on Sunday (18/10/2026).

For Herdman, the revival of Indonesia Women's League carries familiar context. Before taking charge of the Indonesia National Team, this English-born coach holds an extensive track record in Women's Football development, including tenures leading the women's national teams of New Zealand and Canada.

"This is a historic night. To witness the very first match and be part of this celebration means a lot. I was present when Women's Football leagues launched in Canada and New Zealand, and seeing that same milestone unfold here tonight is truly heartening," stated Herdman.

Herdman's top-tier international experience makes his outlook on Indonesian women's football progress a particularly valuable perspective.

With New Zealand Women's National Team, he guided the squad to qualify for the 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cups, as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. During his tenure with Canada, Herdman delivered gold at the 2011 Pan American Games, plus Olympic bronze medals at London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016.

According to Herdman, the on-pitch quality shown by Indonesian Players will advance in line with growing match experience and regular competitive opportunities.

"Having dedicated most of my career to women's football, I can recognise the quality already present on the pitch today. That standard will only keep growing over time," said Herdman, who recently led Indonesia to lift the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 title.

Tight Competition Observed On Opening Week

The initial competitive landscape of Indonesia Women's League 2026/2027 became clear across the three fixtures held during the first matchweek.

Persita opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Garudayaksa FC. Dewa United Banten FC secured an identical 1-0 result against Persikad.

Meanwhile, Persija Jakarta Women had to settle for a shared point after a 1-1 draw with FC Bekasi City Women. FC Bekasi City took the lead via Nao Tsukamato's 29th minute penalty, before Saki Nishihara equalised for Persija with a direct free kick in the 39th minute.

Persija Jakarta Women head coach Muhamad Yusup Prasetiyo admitted he was surprised by the competitive standard across all three opening week matches. He noted every participating club demonstrated capability that made the league far more balanced than his initial expectations.

While not satisfied with Persija's opening match performance, Yusup acknowledged first fixtures of any season always carry unique pressure. This season also marks his first experience coaching a professional women's football side.

These early assessments provide an initial snapshot of the league dynamics. However, long-term competition consistency and sustainable match quality improvements will remain the key benchmarks to measure real progress for Indonesian women's football.

Six Clubs Competing Until January 2027

The 2026/2027 Indonesia Women's League is contested by six clubs: Garudayaksa FC, Persita, Persikad, Dewa United Banten FC, Persija Jakarta Women, and FC Bekasi City.

The competition uses a triple round-robin format, meaning every club will face each opponent three times during the regular phase. Per official league schedule, the regular season will run across 15 matchweeks with 45 total fixtures, and is set to conclude on 17 January 2027.

The top 4 ranked teams will advance to the semi-final stage on 23 January 2027. The third place playoff and grand final match are scheduled to be held on 30 January 2027.

For Herdman, the growth of Indonesian women's football also carries personal meaning. He shared his hope that one day his own daughter may be able to come and play football in Indonesia.

"I have a daughter. I hope one day she can come here and play football in Indonesia," Herdman was quoted by state news agency Antara.

The return of the national women's league is only the first step for Indonesia to build a consistent women's football ecosystem. The next challenges will be maintaining league continuity, raising player standards, and expanding development pathways for the next generation of female footballers in the country.