Indonesia Hosts The 2023 U-17 World Cup Not Because Of Israel

PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir (left) with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA – PSSI General Chairman Erick Thohir said that Israel would not be present at the 2023 U-17 World Cup as FIFA's main consideration in appointing Indonesia to host the age group event.

FIFA officially appointed Indonesia as the host for the 2023 U-17 World Cup at the FIFA Council meeting in Switzerland, Friday 23 June 2023. Indonesia will replace Peru's role.

Erick said Israel not qualifying for the event was not the reason FIFA appointed Indonesia to be the host after previously a wave of rejection against the country had prevented the U-20 World Cup from being held here.

"FIFA sees that there are three positive things after the U-20 post, so in context, I'm only talking about the U-17. One FIFA sees the organization being carried out by Indonesia for the matches between Palestine and Argentina," said Erick.

Erick said the two FIFA Matchday matches were successfully held. Then another consideration is the blueprint previously given by PSSI to FIFA.

"There are 22 stadiums that will be renovated this year. If I'm not mistaken, 400 billion. That's clear proof that Indonesia is ready to standardize facilities," said the BUMN Minister.

He continued, apart from that, another FIFA consideration was the seriousness of Indonesian football to improvement in the last few months, especially in building a national team at all levels.

"Those three are of course what FIFA appreciates when they see that we are serious about building our national team. SEA Games and now FIFA Matchday as well. Then they see the preparation of the senior and junior national teams," he said.

"They see that this is in accordance with the transformation. So, if the context is the next world championship or international event I can only answer the U-17 which is certain for us. Meanwhile, I cannot answer the others because there is a process from the FIFA meeting in which We can't intervene," he added.

The 2023 U-17 World Cup will be held from 10 November to 2 December 2023. It is planned to form a committee for the event at a meeting on Tuesday, 27 June.