PUPR Minister Ensures Stadium Revitalization Complete Before April 2023

ILLUSTRATION/Bung Karno Stadium Jakarta/ANTARA/Puspa Perwitasari

TABANAN - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono confirmed that the revitalization of the stadiums used for the U20 World Cup matches in Indonesia will be completed before April 2023.

“(Preparations) towards that (100 percent). (Before April 2023) we are ready. All those who are included in the U20 (World Cup) program and places for training (are also ready)," said Basuki Hadimuljono when met on the sidelines of his working visit accompanying President Jokowi in Tabanan, Bali, Thursday, 2 February.

The U20 World Cup will be held in Indonesia from 20 May 2023 to 11 June 2023. There are six stadiums that have received FIFA approval to become the venue for the U-20 World Cup, namely at Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium in Jakarta, Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Manahan Stadium in Solo, Gelora Bung Tomo in Surabaya, Jakabaring Stadium in Palembang, and Captain I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar, Bali.

In this regard, the PUPR Ministry is tasked with renovating and ensuring that the stadiums which are the venue for the U-20 World Cup comply with FIFA standards.

Basuki conveyed that the renovation budget as a whole reached IDR 175 billion.

"That's Rp. 175 billion in all. There are five stadiums in use, and 20 (fields) for practice. (Revitalized stadiums, ed.) are in Palembang, Bandung, Solo, Bali and Surabaya," said Basuki.

On a separate occasion, the Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali last month (25/1) said that Indonesia was ready to host the U-20 World Cup. He added that there were still a number of technical matters that were still in the negotiation stage, for example, such as holding the opening and closing ceremonies for the U20 World Cup.

"Overall it is in a ready condition, there are only a few things that need our attention. For example for the FIFA U20 World Cup, previously there were no opening and closing events, but now FIFA has agreed and needs to get approval from the President," said Zainudin at a press conference last month.

He said Indonesia had actually been ready to host the U20 World Cup since 2021, but at that time FIFA decided to postpone the competition due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We have been ready since 2021," said the Menpora.

For the U20 World Cup, there are 24 countries that will compete, but so far only 12 countries have confirmed to compete, namely Indonesia as the host, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, the United States, Fiji, New Zealand, England, France, Israel, Italy, and Slovakia.

The rest, other teams from the continents of Asia, Africa, and South America can only have tickets to compete in the U20 World Cup after they go through the qualifying phase in February-March 2023. The qualification is in the form of a U20 tournament in the region.

Meanwhile, the 2023 U20 World Cup group draw is scheduled to take place on April 1, 2023.

“The draw is on April 1. Until now, only 12 countries have been confirmed to appear at the 2023 U-20 World Cup," said the Menpora in Jakarta, Monday (31/1).