TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta-owned property developer PT Jakarta Propertindo or Jakpro’s Vice President for Corporate Secretary, Syahrial Syarif, stated that Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) is fully ready to be used for U-17 World Cup. He mentioned that the stadium was once the venue for two international football matches.

“JIS is 100 percent ready,” Syahrial said when met by Tempo at JIS, North Jakarta, on Monday, July 3, 2023.

One of the two matches was the 2021 International Youth Championship (IYC). At that time, four teams played in the stadium, viz. Barcelona U-18, Atletico Madrid U-18, Bali United U-18, and Indonesia All-Star U-20.

The second international match at JIS was Persija Jakarta against Thailand Chonburi FC as part of the JIS grand launching ceremony on Sunday, July 24, 2022. Syahrial recalled that about 50,000-60,000 people attended the match or less than the total capacity of 82,000.

Previously, SOE Minister who also serves as Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI), Erick Thohir, stated that JIS needs to be renovated first before hosting U-17 World Cup which will take place from November 10 to December 2, 2023.

JIS is one of the alternative stadiums mentioned by President Joko Jokowi Widodo since the Jakarta Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium may not be available due to the Coldplay concert on November 15, 2023.

Two other ministers, Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono and Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo, also said that JIS has not met FIFA standards yet, given poor public access to the stadium and parking capacity.

Although Jakpro considered that JIS is completely ready for U-17 World Cup, Syahrial said his side is waiting for a follow-up, evaluation, and a decision by FIFA and the government. “So, we haven't formally had any specific discussions about that,” he said.

DESTY LUTHFIANI

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