Jakarta (ANTARA) - The International Football Federation (FIFA) has officially designated Jakarta as its operational hub for Southeast Asia and East Asia, Chairman of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Erick Thohir stated.

Thohir made the announcement after signing a Host Country Agreement (HCA) with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the sidelines of the FIFA Executive Football Summit 2025 in Miami, United States, on Tuesday (June 17).

"With this HCA, the FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only benefit Indonesia but will also serve as a center for 21 football associations across Southeast Asia and East Asia," Thohir said in an official statement on Wednesday.

The new agreement builds on a similar accord signed in November 2023 and will soon be formalized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Thohir emphasized that the FIFA Jakarta Office will now broaden its role—from focusing solely on Indonesian football development to supporting the growth of football throughout Asia.

He noted that this initiative is aligned with FIFA President Infantino’s vision to promote and develop football equally around the world.

Thohir, a former Inter Milan president, also shared that Infantino expressed satisfaction with PSSI’s recent progress.

"I briefed the FIFA president on our efforts in Indonesia. He was pleased with the progress we've made, especially since Indonesian football previously faced many challenges," he stated.

Thanks to FIFA's support and the association’s reforms, Thohir added, the Indonesian national football team is currently on a positive trajectory.

Meanwhile, Infantino highlighted that the Jakarta Hub represents FIFA’s long-term commitment to accelerating football development across the wider Asian region.

Earlier in Miami, PSSI was also honored with the FIFA Forward Gold Award for its effective implementation of a national training center under the FIFA Forward program, located in Indonesia’s future capital, Nusantara, in East Kalimantan.



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Translator: Hendri S, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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