From July 17 to 26, 2026, there is a tournament on the calendar that means more to me than winning a match. The AFF Women's Cup 2026 is played in Malaysia and for ten days, that is the place where women's football in Southeast Asia takes center stage. And we want to be ready.
This is not a tournament you deal with through a polite preparation. It is a snapshot of where women's football in this region stands. And for Indonesia, that is particularly interesting right now, because over the past years we have truly grown.
What is the AFF Women's Cup?
The AFF Women's Cup is an international women's football tournament organized by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF). It brings together the women's teams of Southeast Asia and serves as an important regional platform for the development of women's football in the region. Countries like Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar and Indonesia compete here for regional glory.
The tournament grows in significance every year. The level rises, the intensity too and the attention from the region increases. Indonesia won the AFF Women's Cup in Laos in November 2024 as inaugural champion, a result that shows our team is clearly developing.
Malaysia as Host Country
The fact that the tournament takes place in Malaysia this year adds something to it. Football is alive there and the atmosphere around regional matches is always intense. The stands are full, the rivalry is palpable and every match counts double because you know people at home are watching.
For us as a team, it is also practically interesting. A host country in Southeast Asia means conditions we know: the heat, the humidity, the pace of play that is high on both sides. That requires something specific from your body and your mind, and that is exactly what we are preparing for.
What this Tournament Means for Indonesian Women's Football
We have grown. But what exactly does that mean? It means that in 2024 we won the AFF Women's Cup in Laos. It means that young girls in Indonesia now look at the national team as something achievable. And it means that expectations have risen, also from ourselves.
The AFF Women's Cup 2026 in Malaysia is the next test. Can we continue on this path? Can we measure up against the strongest teams in the region and show that 2024 was no coincidence? Those are the questions we need to answer on the field.
This tournament is not just a competition. It is a measuring moment. For ten days you show where you stand, what you have learned and how far you are willing to go.
Our Preparation Towards July 2026
Everything starts with preparation. Not with nice words on paper, but with the work that is done every day. Every training session, every friendly match, every individual session has the goal of putting a better team on the field on July 17, 2026 than the team from last week.
We work on our team chemistry, because at this level football is about patterns that you cannot improvise. We work on our tactical discipline, because opponents like Thailand and Vietnam have years of experience in reading matches. And we work on our mentality, because winning a tournament is as much a matter of character as of quality.
The friendly matches against stronger opponents are exactly for this purpose. You sometimes lose, but you learn. You see how big the difference can still be, but you also see where the opportunities lie.
What this Tournament Means to Me Personally
Wearing the Indonesian shirt on a regional stage is something I never take for granted. You must cherish that feeling, because it is the reason why you train every day. You don't play just for yourself. You play for your team, for your family, for people who follow along at home.
And perhaps most importantly: you play for the next generation. Girls who are now twelve or thirteen and see that it is possible. That an Indonesian woman can play football at this level. That the national team is something to aspire to, not just to admire from a distance. That sense of responsibility gives energy and makes every tough training session worthwhile.
July 2026: We Are Ready
Malaysia will be the stage for a new chapter. New matches, new opportunities and new memories. We know it will be tough. We know the competition is strong. But we also know why we do it.
With discipline, with passion and with pride. The AFF Women's Cup 2026 is coming and we are going to be ready.
