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Indonesia gears up to host U-20 soccer World Cup in 2021
Considered a nice surprise for the new administration, FIFA has just announced Indonesia is to be the host of the 2021 U-20 soccer World Cup.
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Gearing up: The logo of the U-20 soccer World Cup that is slated to be held in Indonesia in 2021 was introduced to the public on Thursday. The announcement was made by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino in a meeting in Shanghai. Indonesia was selected over Brazil and Peru, which were also eyeing the host status. (The Jakarta Post/Courtesy of PSSI)
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n a quite surprising manner, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino in Shanghai has just announced Indonesia is to be the host of the 2021 U-20 soccer World Cup, beating contenders Brazil and Peru. A top Youth and Sports Ministry official said that the solid support shown by the government played a pivotal role in securing the appointment to host.
The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has received documents from President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, then national police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and acting Youth and Sports Minister Hanif Dhakiri that guaranteed the readiness of the association to act as a host of the prestigious event.
“Not to mention the huge support from Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi and dozens of regional sports ministers who earlier showed support during the Manila meeting, which I attended to represent the acting youth and sports minister,” the secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry, Gatot S. Dewobroto, said on Thursday.
A member of the PSSI executive committee, Refrizal, praised the appointment but he warned that a massive amount of hard work was required to prepare both the infrastructure and the national team. He said there were some modifications that needed to be done in order to be in line with FIFA’s standards.
“There are some basic things like chairs and other equipment that we need to modify to be in line with FIFA’s requirements,” the PKS politician said.
He said PSSI needed to work closely with the government and local administrations during the preparations. Right now, he said, there are 10 stadiums that are prepared for the championship.
They are the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, the Pakansari Stadium in Cibinong, Bogor, the I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Bali, the Bandung Lautan Api Stadium in Bandung, the Manahan Stadium in Surakarta, the Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium in Jakabaring, South Sumatra, the Chandrabhaga Stadium and Wibawa Mukti Stadium in Bekasi, the Mandala Krida Stadium in Jogjakarta and the Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya.
