FIFA has decided to withdraw Indonesia as the host country of the 2023 U-20 World Cup and will announce the new host country as soon as possible.
“Following today's meeting between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and his PSSI counterpart Erik Thohir, FIFA has decided to withdraw Indonesia as the host country of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. 2023 due to the current circumstances," the world soccer governing body published in a statement.
The draw for the next World Cup was due to take place last Friday in Bali, but the situation was complicated when the island's governor, Wayan Koster, refused to welcome Israel (which qualified for the competition for the first time) and asked that their participation will be vetoed.
That conflict caused FIFA to suspend the event which put the situation on hold.
The new host country of the U-20 World Cup will be announced as soon as possible, without the tournament dates being modified and possible sanctions for the PSSI will be analysed.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo sent Indonesian soccer federation president Erick Thohir to meet FIFA. Photo: AP Photo
With the departure of Indonesia, the chances of information that has spread in recent days grow: Chiqui Tapia would have offered Gianni Infantino the chance to organize the World Cup in Argentina.
If materialized, Argentina would qualify for the World Cup in the category, after Mascherano's misstep in the South American Qualifiers where he did not reach the goal after falling with Colombia in Paraguay.
“FIFA wishes to emphasize that, despite the decision taken, it remains committed to helping the PSSI, in close collaboration with the Government of President Widodo, to carry out the process of transforming national football after the tragedy that occurred in October 2022. The members of the different FIFA teams will remain in Indonesia for the next few months and will assist the PSSI as necessary under the direction of President Thohir”.
Later there will be a new meeting between the president of FIFA and that of the PSSI.
