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Fears grow FIFA may revoke Indonesia’s license to host U-20
Now that there is a real threat that FIFA may move the competition elsewhere, several nations have stepped up to offer their services.
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A grass stitching machine arrives at I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Denpasar, Bali, on March 18, 2023 to prepare playing fields for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. (Courtesy of/Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI))
I
ndonesia’s license to host the FIFA U-20 World Cup is in serious jeopardy as the fallout from local protests over Israel’s participation in the youth tournament spreads internationally, with other countries ready to pounce on the opportunity should the world soccer governing body look elsewhere.
The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) announced on Sunday that FIFA had canceled the tournament’s group stage draw indefinitely, after some regional chapters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lent their voices to protests over Israel’s presence in the tournament.
The Israeli national team qualified for the U-20 last year without appreciable political opposition in Indonesia or elsewhere.
Now that there is a real threat that FIFA may move the competition elsewhere, several nations have stepped up to offer their services.
Argentinian media outlet Doble Amarilla reported on Sunday that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) had formally submitted a request to take over the youth world cup.
Should Argentina win the bid, its U-20 team will take the spot in the competition reserved for the host country. Argentina did not qualify this year for the 24-team tournament.
