Indonesia to Host U-20 Soccer World Cup in 2021

Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali (Photo: Cabinet Secretariat)

Indonesia has been officially chosen by the International Football Association Federation (FIFA) to host the U-20 Soccer World Cup in 2021.

“Good news today from the FIFA Council Meeting in Shanghai: Indonesia was chosen to host the U20 World Cup football championship in 2021,” President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo wrote on his Twitter account @jokowi, Thursday (24/10).

According to the President, the Government will gear up to prepare ten stadiums to welcome the big event, including Gelora Bung Karno stadium in capital Jakarta, Pakansari stadium in the West Java city of Bogor, and Manahan stadium in the Central Java city of Solo.

Newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali maintained that the Government is committed to working hard to prepare this event.

“I think this is a very rare opportunity. Therefore, the Government is determined to prepare this event as well as possible starting from the preparation, during the event, as well as the achievements (of the athletes),” Zainudin said in Jakarta, Thursday (24/10).

According to the Minister, the Government, especially Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) and the entire Indonesian people, feel grateful that the country was appointed to host this prestigious event.

The FIFA U-20 World Cup is the biennial football world championship for male players under the age of 20, organized by FIFA. The competition has been staged every two years since the first tournament in 1977 held in Tunisia.

Indonesia is the second country in South East Asia to host this event after Malaysia in 1997. (PR of Ministry of Youth and Sports/ES)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas