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Eyes on the prize: Indonesia sets out to prove itself at U-17 World Cup
The FIFA Under-17 World Cup kicks off on Friday at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya with 24 countries competing in six groups. It is the first time the event has been hosted in Indonesia, and Southeast Asia more broadly.
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Indonesian right winger Jehan Pahlevi (center) fights for a ball possession against Equador’s Elkin Ruiz during their FIFA U-17 World Cup match in Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, East Java on Nov. 10, 2023. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Antara/Aditya Pradana Putra)
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fter months of growing excitement, Indonesia will begin hosting the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in four different cities in the coming days, starting with the opening ceremony in Surabaya on Friday.
Set in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and Surakarta, the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup will see 24 countries go head-to-head in six different groups and qualification stages from Friday to Dec. 2. This is the first time that the U-17 edition of the prestigious sports tournament has been held in the country, as well as in Southeast Asia more broadly.
The international event will open at Surabaya’s Gelora Bung Tomo stadium, one of the four host stadiums Indonesia has prepared. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will reportedly attend the opening.
“The opening ceremony will be interesting because it will symbolize the first time a World Cup event is held in Indonesia,” Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) chief Erick Thohir said in a statement.
Despite being the under-17 age branch of the main World Cup, the competition still matters greatly to the country, Erick added.
The Indonesian national team is placed in the same group as Morocco, Panama and Ecuador and will play Ecuador in the opening match on Friday evening before meeting Panama on Monday.
Tickets for the opening match have reportedly sold out at the Gelora Bung Tomo stadium, which can accommodate over 46,000 spectators. Meanwhile, Bandung regency’s Youth and Sports Agency is planning to provide all students with free tickets to matches held at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung regency, West Java.
