Menpora Gives His Blessing, PSSI Is More Confidence In Proposing To Host The 2023 Asian Cup

Menpora Zainudin Amali (left) with PSSI Chairman Mochamad Iriawan. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - PSSI will volunteer to host the 2023 Asian Cup. This step is firmly carried out after getting support from the government, in this case the Ministry of Youth and Sports (Kemenpora).

PSSI was previously still reviewing steps to replace China, which resigned as the host of the 2023 Asian Cup. The reason is that the 2023 Asian Cup will be held close to the end of the U-20 World Cup which will also be held in Indonesia.

PSSI General Chair Mochamad Iriawan said his party had coordinated with the Kemenpora. PSSI is also increasingly determined to advance to compete with Korea, Japan, Australia and Qatar who also volunteered to be the host.

"After PSSI coordinated with the government, in this case the Ministry of Youth and Sports, finally PSSI officially volunteered to host the 2023 Asian Cup," said Iriawan on the PSSI official website.

"All the requirements requested by the AFC we will immediately prepare and we will send it as soon as possible," he continued.

Previously, Menpora Zainudin Amali admitted that there was a request from PSSI to advance as the host of the 2023 Asian Cup. His blessing was also given and hoped that Indonesia could host it.

"The results will be seen later. Because now there are three countries namely South Korea, Japan and Australia which have also volunteered. The point is that we support PSSI if we want to be the host," said Menpora Zainudin Amali.

As is known, Asia's biggest football competition is 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