Saturday, 06 June 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-19 Championship 2026 in North Sumatra will now be held exclusively at two venues: the North Sumatra Main Stadium and the Athletics Madya Stadium. The adjustment was made after Medan's Stadion Teladan failed to complete essential infrastructure upgrades required for hosting matches with spectators.
Originally, Stadion Teladan was listed as one of the venues for the Asean U-19 Boys' Bank Sumut Championship 2026. However, as of Saturday (May 30, 2026), several supporting facilities remained under construction, making the stadium temporarily unsuitable for matches with public attendance.Infrastructure Not Yet Fully Completed
North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution confirmed during an inspection that the pitch condition at Stadion Teladan is already up to standard. However, he emphasized that several critical supporting facilities are still unfinished."The field is in good condition, but supporting infrastructure such as toilets, access routes, and other facilities is not yet completed. This is about spectator safety, not the playing surface," Bobby Nasution said on Saturday (30/05/2026).
He further underlined that the provincial government fully supports the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI)'s decision, particularly regarding safety standards for spectators."We fully support the PSSI's decision, especially in terms of spectator safety," he added.
Acting head of the North Sumatra PSSI, Arya Sinulingga, stated that two potential scenarios are still being considered for Stadion Teladan's use during the tournament.
The stadium could either serve as a training ground for participating teams or be used as a match venue without spectators."A final decision has not yet been made. There are two options: either as a training venue or as a match venue without spectators — possibly for four matches," Arya Sinulingga explained.
Final arrangements will be determined after further coordination with relevant authorities.
Tournament Kick-Off on June 1, 2026
The AFF U-19 Boys' Bank Sumut Championship 2026 officially kicks off on Monday, June 1, 2026, at the North Sumatra Main Stadium. The opening match is scheduled for 4:00 PM WIB.Later in the evening, Indonesia's U-19 national team will face Timor-Leste U-19 at 8:00 PM WIB, a fixture already anticipated as one of the highlights of the opening day in North Sumatra. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Darmailawati | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
