2022 AFF Cup: Indonesian National Team Candang At Patriot Stadium, Brunei Pilih Mengungsi To Malaysia

The Patriot Bekasi Stadium is home to the Indonesian national team for the 2022 AFF Cup. (Photo: Doc. PSSI)

JAKARTA - PSSI finally determined the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium, Bekasi, West Java, as a home for the 2022 AFF Cup. This was conveyed by PSSI Executive Committee (Exco) Member Endri Erawan.

He said Patriot's condition was more prepared than other stadiums. "So the match against Thailand and Cambodia took place at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium," said Endri, as reported by Antara, Saturday, November 19.

Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium is an arena that is often used for international football matches and tournaments. Finally, the stadium with a maximum capacity of 30 thousand spectators became the venue for the 2022 AFF U-19 Cup tournament.

The good name Patriot Candrabhaga made Endri Erawan sure that the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) would not think long about granting permission to implement the 2022 AFF Cup there.

"They (AFF-ed) must have known about it several times (the Patriot-ed condition)," said Endri.

Meanwhile, Brunei Darussalam chose the Kuala Lumpur FA Stadium (KLFA) or Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Malaysia, as home to the 2022 AFF Cup.

The stadium with a maximum capacity of around 18 thousand spectators in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, was chosen because it had met the standards set by the AFF.

The Brunei Darussalam national team cannot use Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Begawan Seri Bandar because it is being renovated.

Unlike the previous edition which was held centrally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest AFF Cup will return to a format like 2018, namely home and away.

All teams in the group will face each other with each team will compete twice and compete away twice. Later, the two best teams from each group will be entitled to advance to the semifinals.

The 2022 AFF Cup will be held on December 20, 2022 - January 16, 2023. In that tournament, the Indonesian national team is in Group A with defending champions Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia and Brunei Darussalam.