The International Federation of Association Football announced on Wednesday that Indonesia will no longer host the 2023 Under‑20 World Cup. In a statement, FIFA said a new host will be named as soon as possible and that the tournament dates will remain unchanged.
The draw for the competition, scheduled for May 20–June 11, was cancelled after protests over Israel’s participation in the 24‑team event. FIFA’s statement said Indonesia could not host “due to the current circumstances,” without providing further details.
The decision comes amid political tensions surrounding Israel’s involvement. Indonesia and Israel have no formal diplomatic relations, and strong support for the Palestinian cause in the world’s most populous Muslim‑majority nation has fueled local opposition to the Israeli team. Indonesian officials suggested that Bali’s governor, who called for Israel to be excluded from the cup because of its policies toward the Palestinians, likely influenced the draw’s cancellation. Additionally, around a hundred conservative Muslim demonstrators marched in Jakarta this month to protest Israel’s participation.
Comments are closed for this story.