Top News

MEDAN – Thousands of Indonesian national team supporters packed the North Sumatra Main Stadium to cheer for the Garuda Muda squad in their opening match of the ASEAN U-19 Boys' Bank Sumut Championship 2026, also known as the AFF U-19 2026. The team, coached by Nova Arianto, is set to face Myanmar on Monday (1 June 2026) at 8:00 PM.

According to observations at the venue, a sea of red and white filled the historic stadium, which was previously used for the 21st National Sports Week (PON) Aceh–North Sumatra 2024.

Men, women, and children alike were visibly excited to witness Putu Panji and his teammates take on the Myanmar side.

In addition to the massive crowd, numerous vendors could be seen along the roads leading to the stadium, selling everything from team jerseys to local snacks. Many fans stopped by to make purchases before entering the venue.

The enthusiasm for the 2026 AFF U19 Cup was not limited to Medan or Deliserdang residents alone.

One such fan, Suari Sitohang, travelled all the way from Mandailing Natal with his group to support the young Garuda team. Suari and his companions made the trip in three minivans.

“We are proud to come from Mandailing Natal to this North Sumatra Main Stadium. It’s truly something to be proud of, and we from Mandailing Natal fully support this stadium’s presence,” Suari said while taking photos in front of the venue.

“This is our way of showing patriotism and supporting our beloved Indonesia Raya,” he added.

For this match, Suari expressed his confidence in a strong victory for Putu Panji and the team. He boldly predicted a 3-0 win over Myanmar.

“I hope Indonesia wins 3-0 against Myanmar,” he stated.

The 40-year-old also expressed hope that the AFF Cup would ultimately belong to the Garuda Muda squad, serving as a stepping stone toward higher-level tournaments such as the AFC Cup and the World Cup.

“I hope our U-19 national team can advance to the Asian Cup and even the World Cup in the future,” he said.

When asked about his favourite player in Nova’s squad, Suari said he did not single anyone out. According to him, every player is a source of pride for the people of North Sumatra and Indonesia as a whole.

“All the players are my favourites. There’s no distinction because we are all Indonesia,” he expressed.

Another supporter, a female fan named Maria Mountessori, shared that she travelled alone from Padang Lawas to attend the match.

The 21-year-old said she came specifically to support the Indonesian national team. She even stayed overnight at a friend’s house in Batang Kuis, Deliserdang, just to be closer to the stadium.

“Even though I’m a woman, I really love watching football, especially when it’s the Indonesian national team playing. Of course, we will always support Indonesia,” she said.

Mountessori, as she is fondly called, also hoped that Indonesia could defend its title and win the championship for the second consecutive time in this year’s AFF Cup.

“My hope is that Indonesia can lift the trophy again,” she added.

Additionally, Mountessori expressed her wish for PSSI and the government to bring the senior national team to play in North Sumatra. She believes that the region has adequate facilities and that the football enthusiasm here is just as strong as in Java.

“I really hope the senior national team can play here one day. I think the atmosphere would be even more festive, and the fans would be super excited,” she concluded.