Garuda Pertiwi vs Jordan: Jordan U-16 Women's National Team Targets Srikandi Merdeka Cup Final

The Jordan U-16 Women's National Team is eager to face Garuda Pertiwi in the 2026 Srikandi Merdeka Cup semi-finals. Despite playing as the visiting side, Jordan are determined to put up a fierce fight when they meet the Indonesian representatives at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus, Central Java, on Friday 21 August.

Jordan secured their semi-final spot after navigating Group B fixtures against Thailand, Singapore, and Putri Nusantara. The squad led by head coach Luna Rami Amin Almasri finished in second place, joining group winners Thailand in advancing to the final four.

Luna stated that this achievement provides valuable momentum for her team's development. She also emphasized that her players did not travel to Indonesia simply to make up the numbers in the tournament.

"We are absolutely delighted to have reached the semi-finals after coming through such challenging matches. This is an incredibly valuable experience for the growth of this squad," Luna told reporters during the pre-match press conference at the Supersoccer Arena, Kudus, on Thursday.

The Jordanian head coach also praised the fighting spirit shown by her players, who battled right until the final whistle of every group stage match.

"We did not qualify here by luck. This squad fought for every minute right to the end. Of course there were some mistakes made along the way, but I am very proud of these players. We are here to learn, to compete, and to improve," Luna added.

Jordan Excited To Test Themselves Against Indonesia's Playing Style

Ahead of the semi-final clash, Jordanian player Nadin Omar Qassem Abu Salha described the upcoming match against Garuda Pertiwi as a valuable opportunity. She is looking forward to testing her team's capabilities against a different style of football.

According to Nadin, Indonesian women's football has a very distinct identity, most notably defined by their exceptional passion and fighting spirit on the pitch.

"It is a fantastic experience for us to face an entirely different playing philosophy. I believe both Indonesian teams in this tournament share that same core identity of relentless competitive spirit," Nadin explained.

For this reason, Nadin confirmed that Jordan will embrace the challenge while fighting hard to secure a place in the tournament final.

"This entire squad is full of excitement for this match, and we will do everything we can to reach the final," she added.

This semi-final tie will present a major test for Jordan. Garuda Pertiwi enter the knockouts with a perfect group stage record, meaning Luna's side will need exceptional discipline to neutralise the home side's pressure.

Garuda Pertiwi Record Perfect Group A Campaign

Indonesia fielded two separate squads for the 2026 under-16 Srikandi Merdeka Cup. Garuda Pertiwi is the primary national side, comprised mostly of players from Indonesia's official U-16 Women's National Team under head coach Timo Scheunemann.

The second Indonesian entry is Putri Nusantara, a newly assembled development squad coached by young manager Takumi Taniguchi.

Garuda Pertiwi were drawn in Group A alongside Malaysia, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia. Led by Jazlyn Kayla Firyal, the side put in an outstanding group stage performance, winning every single one of their matches.

Garuda Pertiwi opened their campaign with a 7-0 thrashing of Saudi Arabia, followed by a 3-0 win over Malaysia, before closing the group stage with a 1-0 victory against Hong Kong. This maximum 9 points tally saw them finish top of Group A and advance to the semi-finals.

In contrast, Putri Nusantara faced a far tougher path in Group B.

Dian Aprilia Pary and her teammates suffered 0-2 defeats to both Thailand and Singapore, only recording their first win in their final group match when they defeated Jordan 3-1.

This result was not enough to earn Putri Nusantara a semi-final berth, with the side finishing third in Group B.

As a result, the four qualified semi-finalists for the 2026 Srikandi Merdeka Cup are Garuda Pertiwi and Malaysia from Group A, alongside Thailand and Jordan from Group B.

Garuda Pertiwi vs Jordan Semi-Final Preview

The semi-final fixture between Garuda Pertiwi and Jordan will be hosted at the Supersoccer Arena, Kudus, on Friday 21 August.

Garuda Pertiwi go into the tie as favourites on the back of their flawless group stage form. However, Jordan carry extra motivation having survived a difficult group, and are determined to prove themselves against the host nation.

This match also pitches two squads with very different profiles against one another. Garuda Pertiwi showed consistent, polished performances throughout the group stage, while Jordan arrive in the knockouts focused on gaining valuable international experience and continue their growth as a team.

In the other semi-final fixture, Thailand will face Malaysia.

2026 Srikandi Merdeka Cup Semi-Final Schedule

Friday 21 August 2026

Garuda Pertiwi vs Jordan

Thailand vs Malaysia