Menpora Hopes AFC Appoints Indonesia To Host The 2023 Asian Cup

Menpora Zainudin Amali (Cosmas Kopong Beda/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali hopes that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will appoint Indonesia to host the 2023 Asian Cup.

The Asian Cup is scheduled to be held from June 16 to July 16 next year in China. However, the Bamboo Curtain Country withdrew to be the host due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

With the withdrawal of China, Indonesia also volunteered to be the host. The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) is even ready to volunteer and be ready to compete with other countries.

"It's just that our competitors are pretty good, especially the last one, Qatar. Hopefully the AFC will take it into account," Amali told the media crew at the Wisma Kemenpora on Tuesday, July 12, 2022.

Not only Qatar, to be the host, Indonesia must compete with several other countries. South Korea has even openly volunteered to host.

In addition, Australia is also considering volunteering. Meanwhile, Japan claims to have been approached informally to replace China.

Amali hopes that the AFC will provide opportunities for Indonesia. With the consideration that the Asian Cup will be held a month after the U-20 World Cup which also took place in Indonesia.

"After we host the [U-20] World Cup, then only the Asian Cup [2023]. So the infrastructure is still there, maintained and human resources are still there. That should be a consideration," he said.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup is the eighteenth edition. This tournament will involve 24 national teams, including the host country. The Indonesian national team will also take part.