The 2026–27 Championship: A New Era of Indonesian Football Structure
In short: Indonesia's second-tier football is undergoing a structural revolution. From a strict two-region geographical split to a triple round-robin format, the 2026–27 Championship is redefining how clubs compete, move, and survive in the national league pyramid.
The 2026–27 Championship, also known as the Pegadaian Championship, marks the 17th season under its current league structure. This season is significant as it represents the second year of a two-region system. The league is split into the West Group, featuring 10 teams from Sumatra and western Java, and the East Group, featuring 10 teams from eastern Java, Kalimantan, and Papua. This geographical organization is designed to manage the vast distances of the Indonesian archipelago, though specific teams like de Red, Persiku, and PSIS notably moved regions following the official draw.
The competitive landscape is shaped by a rigorous promotion and relegation cycle. The 20-team league consists of 14 teams from the previous season, three promoted from Liga Nusantara, and three relegated from the Super League. The promotion process is high-stakes: teams like Garudayaksa and PSS secured their spots by winning matches in the final matchweek of 2026, while Adhyaksa Banten took the final spot via a promotion playoff on May 8, 2026. Conversely, clubs like Sriwijaya set a record for the lowest points total in the history of the current second division structure.
Governance and identity are also shifting. Clubs are now prohibited from relocating their home bases once they hold an I-League license, with a one-point deduction penalty for violations. We see this reflected in the rebranding of FC Bekasi City to Adhyaksa Football Club Bekasi following a takeover by the Public Prosecution Service. Following a takeover by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's East Java Regional Leadership, the old Dejan club moved to Surabaya and became de Red Football Club.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2026–27 Championship (Indonesia)
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