Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairperson of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir has said that the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has agreed to hold the U-17 World Cup matches at four stadiums in Indonesia.

The tournament, which is scheduled to take place from November 10 to December 2, 2023, will be held at Jakarta International Stadium (Jakarta), Si Jalak Harupat Stadium (Bandung), Manahan Stadium (Solo), and Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium (Surabaya).

"Out of eight stadiums, based on the result of a meeting with FIFA yesterday, we finally agreed on four stadiums," Thohir, who is also serving as the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, informed after accompanying President Joko Widodo to the inauguration ceremony for the Indonesia Arena at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Sports Complex here on Monday.

Thohir said that there will be two groups competing in Jakarta, then two groups in Bandung, one group in Surabaya, and one group in Solo.

PSSI has proposed that the Indonesian national team compete in Jakarta. In addition, the opening of the World Cup will be held in Jakarta, while the semifinal and final matches will be held in Solo.

The four stadiums, especially the conditions of their turf, were inspected directly by FIFA officials earlier.

FIFA officials will visit Indonesia again on August 26 and bring a larger team as part of the preparations for the U-17 World Cup.

PSSI, together with Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Youth and Sports Minister Dito Ariotedjo, acting Jakarta governor Heru Budi Hartono, and West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil will prepare for the FIFA team's visit.

The preparation will also include arrangements for the opening match of the U-17 World Cup, which will take place at Jakarta International Stadium.

A FIFA Council meeting on June 23, 2023, in Zurich, Switzerland, determined that Indonesia will host the U-17 World Cup.

The decision was taken after Peru was stripped of hosting the U-17 World Cup in April 2023. It had been named as the host of the competition in 2019.

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Translator: Mentari Dwi, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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