Indonesia’s women’s football competition is entering a new chapter after being suspended for several years. The 2026/2027 Indonesia Women’s League (IWL) is scheduled to kick off on October 17 with six clubs participating.
The return of the domestic competition has received a positive response from Indonesia women’s national team players, including Safira Ika and Zahra Muzdalifah. Both players consider the league’s revival an important step toward building a more professional women’s football ecosystem in the country.
Safira, who will represent Dewa United, sees the IWL as an important platform for players to gain regular competitive experience. She believes a consistently organized competition can also help athletes maintain their physical condition while improving their technical abilities.
She also welcomed the efforts of various parties involved in reviving the women’s competition. According to Safira, the introduction of player contracts could provide a stronger foundation for athletes seeking to build professional careers.
Meanwhile, Zahra Muzdalifah welcomed the return of the IWL even though she will not be able to participate at the beginning of the season. The FC Bekasi City player is still recovering from an injury and could potentially join her team during the second round.
For Zahra, the return of the league fulfills the hopes of Indonesian women’s players for a professional domestic competition. A similar competition was last held in 2019 before entering a prolonged hiatus.
The inaugural IWL season will feature FC Bekasi City, Persikad Depok, Dewa United, Persija Jakarta, Persita Tangerang, and Garudayaksa. The competition will initially use a centralized format.
Zahra believes the format remains suitable as an initial step in rebuilding the competition. She also supports the drafting mechanism that distributes national team players among participating clubs. Each team will receive six national team players, with the aim of creating a more balanced level of competition between clubs.
The return of the IWL represents an important moment for the development of Indonesian women’s football. Beyond providing a competitive platform, the league is expected to give players greater opportunities to gain experience and develop sustainable professional careers.
Shama is a Content Specialist and News Writer with 4.5+ years of experience in journalism, press release writing, SEO content, and digital publishing. She covers business, technology, blockchain, cryptocurrency, finance, and corporate communications, delivering research-driven content for media platforms and global audiences.
