Argentina has replaced Indonesia as the host of the Under-20 World Cup next month just over two weeks after Indonesia was stripped of the hosting rights following protests there against the Israeli soccer team’s participation, FIFA announced Monday.
FIFA never specified its reason for moving the tournament, merely saying Indonesia lost the tournament “due to the current circumstances.”
Indonesia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic relations, and support for the Palestinian cause in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation runs high, fueling some local opposition to hosting the Israeli team.
Argentina, the record six-time champion, failed to qualify for the U20 World Cup but FIFA decided it will take Indonesia’s spot as host.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement that “the country of the defending World Cup champions will open its doors to the big stars of tomorrow’s world soccer.”
He also thanked local authorities “for hosting this great tournament with so little time.”
Argentina economy minister Sergio Massa said this country had signed “all the international deals that FIFA demanded from our government.”
The tournament draw is scheduled for Friday in Zurich. The event runs May 20-June 11.
Many Indonesian football players, fans and pundits reacted with sadness and anger after FIFA pulled the Under-20 World Cup from the host nation weeks before it was due to kick off, following protests against the Israel’s participation.
Some of the archipelago nation’s football prodigies took to social media with fury and heartbreak last month after losing the chance to play in what FIFA bills as the “tournament of tomorrow’s superstars.”
“Energy, time, sweat, and even blood we have put in, but in a moment failed because of political reasons. Here’s our big dream that you’ve destroyed,” wrote 19-year-old striker Rabbani Tasnim.
An Indonesian FA video showed players with heads bowed and their coach in tears after receiving the news that FIFA would seek a new host.
Mimpi itu tetap harus dikejar dan kesempatan besar pasti akan terus datang.✨
Terima kasih untuk selalu konsisten berjuang membela Merah Putih di kancah internasional, adik-adik. Pertahankan semangat juangmu dan terus fokus dalam mengejar cita-citamu.#KitaGaruda pic.twitter.com/AGY12e1cZP
— PSSI (@PSSI) March 29, 2023
“We, the players, are now affected, not just us but all footballers,” said 18-year-old striker Hokky Caraka.
Indonesians inundated the Instagram page of Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo — one of the leading candidates in next year’s presidential election — with negative comments after he opposed Israel’s participation.
Bali’s governor had also joined the anti-Israel chorus and around a hundred conservative Muslim protesters held an anti-Israel rally in Jakarta.
Israeli delegations have been to Indonesia for sporting and diplomatic events before, including four Israelis who competed in the World Cycling Championship in Jakarta in February.
A number of members of the Israeli Parliament who attended the Interparliamentary Union conference in Bali last year were also warmly welcomed by Indonesia’s house speaker Puan Maharani, the granddaughter of Indonesia’s first president Sukarno, and Bali Governor Wayan Koster, who was the first to reject the Israeli youth soccer team.
An Israeli delegation also attended the COP-13 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Bali in 2007.
There’s no paywall on The Times of Israel, but the journalism we do is costly. As an independent news organization, we are in no way influenced by political or business interests. We rely on readers like you to support our fact-based coverage of Israel and the Jewish world. If you appreciate the integrity of this type of journalism, please join the ToI Community.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago – to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Today’s Daily Briefing
Lacking White House invite, PM wangles China trip
SAVING LIVES AROUND THE GLOBE
Sponsored
&
Signed, Sealed, Delivered?
A fresh look at Israel’s founding moral compass