Persib Bandung vs Arema FC: Clash of Two Teams with a Long History at the 2026 President's Cup

The opening stage of the 2026 President's Cup will kick off immediately with a high-profile fixture. Two teams with deep, long-running histories in Indonesian football, Persib Bandung and Arema FC, will face off in the second Group A match at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium, Bandung Regency, on Saturday 25 July 2026 at 19:30 WIB.

Along with pitting the reigning Indonesian League champions against the most successful club in the entire history of the President's Cup, this match also acts as both sides' first official test of their squad compositions ahead of the 2026/2027 domestic season kickoff.

Persib Bandung head coach Igor Tolić confirmed his side has completed full preparations, though the team will be without several players currently away on national team duty.

"Preparations for this tournament have gone smoothly. We are indeed missing a number of players right now, but we carry a responsibility to every Bobotoh supporter that comes to this stadium. For that reason, we will field our strongest available side and deliver the best standard of football we are capable of," Igor stated.

The Croatian head coach admitted he does not yet have full detailed intelligence on Arema FC's current capabilities, but expressed full confidence his squad is ready for their opening match.

"We are targeting a strong performance - we have shown very positive progress throughout training. We do not have complete insight on our opponent's full strength yet, but we will see that first hand out on the pitch tomorrow," he added.

Meanwhile, Persib midfielder Adam Alis noted that season opening fixtures always carry unique, distinct challenges, and stated the squad is targeting a victory as a gift for the club's supporters.

"This first match of the season will not come easy for either side. We all hope this will be an entertaining, fair contest, and we will fight hard to bring the Bobotoh the joy of a win," Adam said.

He also highlighted that the President's Cup serves as critical momentum to build team cohesion following the arrival of multiple new signings.

"This tournament is vital for building match fitness and team unity. Of course we would be extremely grateful if we can lift the trophy, but right now our core priority is to gel properly as a single, unified team," he explained.

On the Arema FC side, head coach Marcos Santos emphasised his squad will approach the clash against Persib with full respect. Despite holding the all-time record for most President's Cup titles, Arema remains focused on building harmony within their squad first.

"We have completed solid preparations. We know we are facing a major club, but Arema also carry our own legacy as the most decorated side in this competition. We will compete with humility, properly integrate our new players, and strive to deliver a performance that makes our supporters proud," Marcos commented.

Marcos also stressed that team strength is not defined by player nationalities, but by the entire squad's willingness and ability to execute the team's playing philosophy.

"There are no separate groups of Brazilian players, Colombian players or local players in this squad. We are one unit. Only players in peak physical condition that can properly execute our prepared game plan will take the pitch," he stated firmly.

Arema FC defender Julian Guevara acknowledged Persib's standing as one of Indonesia's elite football sides.

"Persib are a very strong outfit. They have won the top domestic league multiple times, and still retain a squad full of high quality players. We know this will be an extremely tough contest, but we travel here with the target of securing a win," Julian said.

This fixture between Persib Bandung and Arema FC is widely projected to be a fiercely contested battle. This opening match of the 2026 President's Cup will mark the start of the Group A title race, as well as the official launch of Indonesia's most prestigious annual pre-season tournament.

Reporter: Syafira