Menpora Supports PSSI Submitting To Host The 2023 Asian Cup

Menpora Zainudin Amali (Photo: Ulfa Gusti/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora), Zainudin Amali gave his full support to PSSI as the Indonesian football federation to volunteer to host the 2023 Asian Cup.

The Minister of Youth and Sports said that PSSI had so far submitted an application to host the 2023 Asian Cup.

"There is an application from PSSI to host the Asian Cup," said Zainudin Amali at the Kemenpora office, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday afternoon.

"The government has agreed and invited (PSSI) to nominate as the host," added the Menpora.

Although he has given his support and the green light to PSSI's wishes, the Minister of Youth and Sports said that the final decision still depends on the AFC as the Asian football confederation.

"The results will be like what we will see later. Because now there are three countries namely South Korea, Japan, and Australia which have also volunteered," explained Amali.

"The point is we support PSSI if we want to host it," said the minister from Gorontalo.

Previously, Asia's biggest soccer competition was planned to be held in China. However, in the preparation process, China resigned because it was still focused on handling the COVID-19 pandemic, which had not yet ended.

With China's withdrawal, the AFC then opened the opportunity for 24 countries that had already qualified for the AFC Cup to volunteer to host. This moment is used by countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Qatar.

The AFC has set the deadline for submitting proposals to host the Asian Cup on 30 June. The Asian Cup is scheduled to take place from June 16 to July 16 next year