Members of a FIFA delegation gather on July 31, 2023 for a field inspection at Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, East Java, accompanied by officials from the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) and the Surabaya city administration. (Antara/HO-Diskominfo Kota Surabaya)
T
he Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has appointed four cities on the island of Java to host the upcoming FIFA Under-17 World Cup, as the soccer body scrambles to improve infrastructure for the competition amid tight deadlines.
PSSI chairman Erick Thohir announced this week that the tournament would be held at the Jakarta International Stadium in Jakarta, Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, West Java, Manahan Stadium in Surakarta, Central Java and Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium in Surabaya, East Java.
“We’re still waiting for FIFA’s official approval for the venues. […] We decided to focus on cities in Java due to logistical and budgeting reasons and considering that we only have 100 days left until the event,” the state-owned enterprises (SOEs) minister said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
PSSI previously renovated the Jakabaring Stadium in Palembang on the island of Sumatra and I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, Bali in preparation for the U-20 World Cup. However, FIFA revoked Indonesia’s hosting rights in March following a surge of resistance against the participation of the Israeli national team.
Read also: Political row undermines RI’s second chance as FIFA host
Indonesia got a second chance to host a FIFA youth tournament at the end of June, when the world soccer governing body withdrew Peru’s hosting rights for the U-17 World Cup over the country’s failure to complete the infrastructure requirements for the tournament on time.
A total of 56 matches will be held during the U-17 World Cup, which is slated to run from Nov. 17 to Dec. 5. The opening game would be carried out in Jakarta, while the final and semifinals would be held in Surakarta.
