Indonesia Will Host The U-17 World Cup, Minister Basuki: All Stadiums Are Ready For Use

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) has ensured the readiness of a number of stadiums in the U-17 World Cup which is being worked on by the Indonesian government to be held in the country.

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said the stadiums that had been prepared for the 2023 U-20 World Cup matches had been upgraded following the International Football Federation (FIFA) standards and had been completed on March 31, 2023.

"Actually, if the stadium was 100 percent completed on March 31, it would have been reviewed by FIFA and okay, that's it, right, there are 20 stadiums and five main stadiums," Basuki told reporters in Jakarta, Tuesday, April 4.

Basuki said that Indonesia now has 20 main stadiums, some of which are planned for the U-20 World Cup and others have also been used for the 2018 Asean Games.

According to him, because there were only six stadiums prepared for the U-20 World Cup match, the government only upgraded a number of facilities with a budget of IDR 155 billion, to comply with FIFA standards.

"The budget is only Rp. 155 billion and everything has been completed, because maybe additional lights, grass repairs, fence repairs, March 31 has been completed and has been reviewed by FIFA," he said.

Thus, continued Basuki, the Ministry of PUPR ensures that stadiums in the country are ready to be used, if Indonesia is later elected to host the 2023 U-17 World Cup.

"In my opinion, for the U-17 it is very okay, except for Blackpink again. God willing, it will be safe," he concluded.

Previously, FIFA had canceled Indonesia to host the U-20 World Cup due to the rejection of the Israeli national team by a number of parties.

FIFA itself has chosen Indonesia as the host of the U-20 World Cup since 2019 and should have been held in 2021. However, the event had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and could only be implemented in 2023.

The U-20 World Cup was originally to be held on May 20-June 11, 2023 in a number of venues that have been determined in a number of regions in Indonesia.

The U-17 World Cup is scheduled to take place from November 10 to December 2, 2023, but the FIFA Council Bureau will now appoint a new host in due course.