Indonesian League Cup will be opened with the classic match fixture between PSMS Medan against Persija Jakarta.

The 2026/2027 season of the League Cup, or Indonesia League Cup, is scheduled to kick off on 3 November 2026. This tournament will bring together teams from the BRI Super League and Pegadaian Championship. The classic fixture between PSMS Medan and Persija Jakarta will headline the tournament's opening day.

Both sides are not only competing for victory, but also seeking to start their campaign in this brand new competition with a positive result.

Based on the I.League draw held on 7 October 2026, PSMS and Persija are drawn into Group A West Region West Zone 1 alongside Sumsel United.

With each team only playing two matches throughout the entire group stage, this opening fixture carries significant weight that will likely shape the direction of qualification for the next round.

Classic Rivalry In A New Tournament

PSMS Medan is a historic club from North Sumatra with an extensive legacy in Indonesian national football. Meanwhile, Persija Jakarta is the capital's flagship club, renowned for its massive dedicated supporter base and long competitive track record across domestic competitions.

This meeting at the Indonesia League Cup presents both sides the chance to test their strength against each other under an entirely new competition format. For PSMS, facing Persija serves as both a major challenge and a prime opportunity to prove they can compete against top-tier league opposition.

The presence of Sumsel United in Group A further intensifies the competition. All three clubs will battle for the top qualifying spot in this tournament which makes its official debut on the 2026/2027 national football calendar.

38 Clubs Compete For The Inaugural Trophy

The Indonesia League Cup is organised by I.League as an additional competition for professional domestic clubs. 38 total clubs will participate, including all teams from the top division BRI Super League and the second tier Pegadaian Championship.

36 of these clubs will begin their campaign from the group stage. They have been divided into 12 groups of three teams each, grouped by region and zone to support operational logistics of the matches.

Every club will play exactly two group stage matches: one home fixture and one away fixture. Only the group winner will secure qualification to the round of 12 knockout stage.

Knockout progression will continue as follows: the six teams that advance from the round of 12 will be joined directly by Persib Bandung and Borneo FC Samarinda at the quarter-final stage.

Persib and Borneo FC were granted automatic quarter-final places as the previous season's Super League champion and runner-up respectively, with this exemption also made to accommodate both clubs' competing commitments in Asian continental club tournaments.

Following the quarter-finals, the tournament will proceed through the semi-final and final rounds to crown the very first Indonesia League Cup winner.

Opening Schedule And November Fixture Timeline

The first round of group stage matches are scheduled to run from 3-5 November 2026. The second group stage round will then be held on 24-26 November 2026, before subsequent tournament rounds resume at the start of December.

Alongside the PSMS Medan vs Persija Jakarta fixture, a full slate of other matches will also take place on the opening day 3 November.

Dewa United will face Persita, Kendal Tornado FC are scheduled to meet Persebaya Surabaya, Persela Lamongan will take on Persijap Jepara, De Red FC will host PSM Makassar, and RANS Nusantara FC will go up against Arema FC.

For both PSMS and Persija, the 3 November fixture will be the very first step of their pursuit for this historic inaugural tournament trophy.

Due to the compact short group stage format, Match Results from this opening game will act as a critical foundation for their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.