Top News

Report by TribunPapua.com Journalist, Feronike Rumere

MIMIKA – Anticipation and excitement for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup are building rapidly across Mimika Regency in Central Papua.

This global football spectacle has brought blessings for local jersey sellers in the region.

Several business owners reported a sharp increase in sales of national team jerseys and accessories over the last few weeks.

On-site observations revealed that residents of Mimika are showing great enthusiasm in hunting for the jerseys of their favourite national teams.

People from all walks of life are preparing to welcome the grandest football tournament on earth.

One of the busiest spots is the “45 Thousand Store” located along Hasanudin Street in Mimika Regency.

This store offers a wide array of jerseys from participating countries in the 2026 World Cup at highly affordable prices.

Among all the national teams, the jerseys of Argentina, Brazil, and the Netherlands have become the most sought-after items among football fans in Mimika.

“Yesterday, the jerseys of the Netherlands, France, and England were already sold out. Only a few pieces remain now. Each shirt costs IDR 45,000,” said Jirdan, one of the jersey sellers on Hasanudin Street, on Thursday (June 4, 2026).

Jirdan admitted that the surge in public interest has caused his stock to sell out quickly.

Interestingly, even though Brazil and the Netherlands jerseys are the best-sellers at his stall, Jirdan personally supports a different team.

“The jerseys of Brazil and the Netherlands sell the fastest. But for this World Cup, I’m rooting for Portugal. Even though they have never won the World Cup, I still support Portugal,” he said jokingly.

Daily Sales Reach IDR 2 Million

Still along Hasanudin Street, another shop called Agatha’s Boutique, owned by Yohana Isir, offers a different option.

Here, she sells premium-quality jerseys made from imported Thai fabrics, priced at IDR 300,000 per piece.

Yohana provides jerseys from 11 participating nations, including Belgium, Argentina, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, Colombia, the Netherlands, England, and France.

“We bring them directly from Jakarta using Thai-imported materials. It’s only been about two weeks since we started selling World Cup-specific jerseys, and the public response has been quite positive,” Yohana explained.

According to Yohana, jerseys from the Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, and Spain are the most popular among her premium customers.

In fact, she mentioned that she has had to restock the Spain jerseys several times due to high demand.

“We’ve restocked Spain’s jerseys several times because customers love their design. We see a promising business opportunity ahead of the World Cup,” she added.

Despite the higher price point, Mimika residents have shown strong purchasing power. Yohana’s daily revenue can reach up to millions of rupiah.

“Most customers who come here are looking for high-quality materials, even if they cost more. In a day, total sales can reach IDR 2 million,” she revealed.

Now, besides hunting for team merchandise, the World Cup atmosphere in Mimika Regency is growing more festive with lively discussions among residents about potential champions and predictions for the final match, which will be hosted across three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. (*)