FIFA drops Indonesia as U-20 World Cup host

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: FIFA announced on Wednesday that it has decided to drop Indonesia as the host of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

“Following today’s meeting between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and president of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI), Erick Thohir, FIFA has decided, due to the current circumstances, to remove Indonesia as the host of the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023,” FIFA said in its statement.

A new host will be announced as soon as possible, with the dates of the tournament currently remaining unchanged, it added.

FIFA is also considering imposing sanctions against PSSI.

Despite the decision, FIFA said it is committed to actively assisting PSSI, in close cooperation and with the support of the government of President Joko Widodo, in transforming Indonesian football following the stadium stampede of October 2022.

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The football’s world governing body said that members of the FIFA team will continue to be in Indonesia in the coming months and will provide the required assistance to PSSI.

PSSI on March 26, 2023, announced that FIFA had canceled the U-20 World Cup draw in Bali, which was scheduled to take place on March 31, without mentioning the reason behind its decision.

However, the Bali provincial government had made known its refusal to welcome Israel’s national team for the competition.

Indonesia was named by FIFA as the host of the U-20 World Cup in 2019 after it beat out two rivals: Brazil and Peru.

Indonesia was preparing six stadiums for the U-20 World Cup: Gelora Bung Karno (Jakarta), Gelora Bung Tomo (Surabaya), Si Jalak Harupat (Bandung), Manahan (Solo), I Wayan Dipta (Bali), and Gelora Sriwijaya Jakabaring (Palembang).