Indonesia Poised To Host FIFA U20 World Cup In 2021

The Persatuan Sepakbola Seluruh Indonesia (PSSI) have beaten bids from South American nations Brazil and Peru.

Indonesia were among the three Southeast Asian nations who were bidding for the FIFA U20 World Cup, but the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) and Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) had decided to withdraw their joint bid in last August making Indonesia the lone bidder from Southeast Asia.

“We are naturally very happy that Indonesia have emerged as the only bid from ASEAN to host the FIFAU20 World Cup in 2021,” PSSI general secretary and ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) vice-president Ratu Tisha Destria had said then.

Indonesia hosting the FIFA U20 World Cup successfully will also strengthen Southeast Asia’s proposed joint-bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. As only Malaysia, one of the five Southeast Asian nations in the proposed bid, has previous experience of hosting a FIFA event.

Indonesia is poised to have 10 stadiums across the nation to host the tournament, however, there is still much to do to prepare the nation’s infrastructure for the event, according to a politician.

Speaking to Jakarta Post, PKS politician and PSSI executive committee member Refrizal, “There are some basic things like chairs (in stadiums) and other equipment that we need to modify to be in line with FIFA’s requirements. Currently, we are preparing these stadiums for this purpose.”

The FIFA Council meeting also announced China as the host of the first edition of the new FIFA Club World Cup in 2021 while Peru will host the FIFA Under 17 World Cup in 2021.