TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) chairperson Erick Thohir proposed four Indonesian cities to hold the 2023 U-17 World Cup, slated to take place from November 10 until December 2. The cities are Jakarta, Bandung, Solo, and Surabaya.

The suggestion is conveyed given the short days of preparations at less than 100 days. “We are proposing eight stadiums, especially six of them that have been renovated for the U-20 tournament, with two additional stadiums. From the results of the budgeting deal earlier, we narrowed them down to four stadiums,” Erick said in a press conference at the Media Center of Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium on Wednesday evening, August 2, 2023.

Erick also suggested to the football's world governing body FIFA that the preliminary matches of the two groups be held each in Jakarta and Bandung and the initial round of one group each in Solo and Surabaya. “Semi-finals and finals to be held in Solo, the opening ceremony in Jakarta, and the national team in Jakarta. That's what we are proposing,” Erick explained.

“Consequently, if there are two groups in Jakarta and Bandung, the training ground must be added. In Bandung, there are three to four practice sites, maybe we should add one more. In Jakarta, two must be added,” said the man who also serves as SOE Minister.

Erick Thohir claimed that FIFA is optimistic about the readiness of the four stadiums in four cities for the international youth tournament. “There are only 100 days left until the opening of the U-17 World Cup. So, time is really running out. Let's ensure we can succeed in the U-17 World Cup with good facilities and team preparation,” he said.

ANTARA

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