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Indonesia has more preparation time as FIFA postpones U-20 World Cup to 2023
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Indonesia Soccer Association (PSSI) chief Comr. Gen. Mochammad Iriawan gives a motivational speech to the members of the senior national team and U-19 national squad who are training at Madya Stadium within the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex on Aug. 15. (JP/Courtesy of www.pssi.org)
T
he world’s soccer governing body FIFA officially announced on Thursday the postponement of the U-20 World Cup from 2021 to 2023 and at the same time appointed Indonesia to still host the event, giving more time for both the organizing committee and the U-19 national squad.
The announcement was made on FIFA’s website, which also postponed the U-17 World Cup which is to be hosted by Peru.
“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to cancel the 2021 editions of the men’s FIFA U-20 World Cup and FIFA U-17 World Cup, and to appoint Indonesia and Peru respectively, who were due to host the tournaments in 2021, as the hosts of the 2023 editions,” FIFA said in a statement.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present challenges for the hosting of international sporting events and to have a restrictive effect on international travel.”
FIFA said it had regularly consulted the relevant stakeholders, including the host member associations as well as the confederations involved in both tournaments originally scheduled to take place in 2021.
“In doing so, it became clear that the global situation has failed to normalize to a sufficient level to address the challenges associated with hosting both tournaments, including the feasibility of the relevant qualification pathways,” FIFA added.
FIFA also said it would like “to express its gratitude to the host member associations, as well as the authorities in Indonesia and Peru, for their commitment and the tournament preparations made so far.”
