PT Liga Utama Indonesia Officially Manages Championship Competition, Starts September 11

The Indonesian Championship football competition is set to begin on September 11, 2026, under the new management of PT Liga Utama Indonesia (LUI). This newly formed legal entity was established as a follow-up to a 2023 congress resolution aimed at creating a specialized body to oversee the Championship league.

Budiman Dalimunthe, General Manager of I.League, explained that the creation of PT LUI marks a step towards greater independence for the competition. By separating its business entity, the league aims for clearer accountability regarding profits and losses. This separation is being implemented gradually for both the Super League and the Championship, fostering more autonomous management and distinct business identities for each.

For the 2026/2027 Championship season, 20 clubs will compete in two regional groups. The champions of each group will earn direct promotion to the Super League, with additional playoff matches to determine final standings. A notable change involves the playoff mechanism for the second promotion spot and relegation battles. Instead of solely relying on points, a panel will assess teams for the second promotion playoff, which will be held at a neutral venue. The tenth-placed team will be relegated directly, while the ninth-placed team will enter a relegation playoff to secure their spot in the Championship.

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With the existence of PT Liga Utama Indonesia, slowly but surely it will become more independent. Its business entity is separated to be clearer, both when there are profits or dividends and when there are losses that must be borne together.