JAKARTA, 24 June 2023 – Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo stated that Indonesia welcomed its appointment as FIFA U-17 World Cup host, as decided by FIFA Council on Friday.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sports welcomed FIFA’s decision to select Indonesia as host of the U-17 World Cup,” Ariotedjo noted as per the ministry’s written statement received on Saturday.
The minister remarked that following the selection as the world cup host, his side will invite officials of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) to deliberate the follow-up plan.
“God Willing, we will invite the PSSI soon to synergize, collaborate, and listen to their complete presentation on the championship’s preparation,” Ariotedjo remarked.
The appointment reflected the global recognition of Indonesia’s capability to organize international-level events, he noted.
The minister said that it will also be in line with President Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi’s) aspiration that international agendas in Indonesia will benefit the national economy.
“The multitude of world-level sports events in Indonesia is consistent with President Jokowi’s aspiration. Apart from improving Indonesia’s image, it can also bolster economic development at its host region in the country,” he stated.
Ariotedjo affirmed that Indonesia should prepare itself to host the U-17 World Cup to ensure success in various aspects of the agenda, such as its organization, administration, and economic effect.
A FIFA Council meeting on Friday in Zurich, Switzerland, determined that Indonesia will host the U-17 World Cup, expected to take place from November 10 to December 2 this year.
The hosting rights were earlier held by Peru. However, the rights were withdrawn in April due to uncertainty over the South American country’s infrastructure conditions despite being named host in 2019.