VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing has assured that stadiums that were previously prepared for the U-20 World Cup are ready and can be used for the U-17 World Cup.

Indonesia is scheduled to host the U-17 World Cup from November 10 to December 2, 2023.

"If they (stadiums) are to be used, they are very ready. We have handed over the management (of the stadiums) and provided training to field managers," Director of Strategic Infrastructure at the ministry's Directorate General of Human Settlements Essy Asiah said here on Tuesday.

She noted that earlier, for the U-20 World Cup--in which Indonesia was removed as the host--FIFA had conducted the last inspection of all stadiums and expressed delight at the conditions of stadiums in Indonesia.

"It was because those stadiums have met the standards set by FIFA," she added.

Regardless, Asiah said shestill did not yet know which stadiums would be used for the U-17 World Cup matches and training.

"Stadiums that were previously planned to be used for the U-20 World Cup are ready for the implementation of the U-17 World Cup because they have been prepared maximally to be used to support international events," she highlighted.

The Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing was previously tasked with preparing 25 stadiums for the U-20 World Cup. The 25 stadiums comprised 5 stadiums for matches and 20 stadiums for training purposes.

However, FIFA then announced its decision to remove Indonesia as the U-20 World Cup host.

Last April, Peru was stripped of hosting the U-17 World Cup due to uncertainty over the South American country's infrastructure conditions. Peru was named as host of the competition in 2019.

A FIFA Council meeting on Friday (June 23, 2023) in Zurich, Switzerland, determined that Indonesia would host the U-17 World Cup.  (Antaranews)