How a cancelled tournament in Peru landed in Indonesia
In short: After the 2021 edition was scrapped due to the pandemic, the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup faced a sudden change of scenery. What began as a Peruvian hosting assignment ended in Southeast Asia, following a complex chain of withdrawals and geopolitical shifts.
The 202 and 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup saga began with a significant disruption. Originally, Peru was slated to host the 2021 tournament following a decision made in Shanghai in October 2019. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2021 edition. While Peru was initially awarded the rights to the subsequent 2023 tournament, the nation eventually withdrew as host on 3 April 2023. This decision followed intense discussions between the Peruvian Football Federation and FIFA regarding the country's infrastructural deficiencies.
Indonesia stepped in to fill the void, with FIFA officially appointing them as the new host on 23 June 2023. This appointment followed a period of significant movement in the region; notably, Indonesia had previously lost the hosting rights for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup to Argentina in March 2023. That loss was attributed to a boycott by several Indonesian provincial governors against the Israeli team. The U-17 tournament, held from 10 November to 2 December 2023, marked the first time Indonesia had hosted a FIFA tournament and the first time the U-17 World Cup was staged in Southeast Asia.
The tournament featured 24 teams, including the defending champions, Brazil, who were ultimately eliminated in the quarter-finals by Argentina. To manage the event, the Football Association of Indonesia, led by Chairman Erick Thohir, proposed eight different stadiums. The tournament's matches were spread across locations such as Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung Regency, with the Manahan Stadium in Surakarta selected to host both the semi-final and the final. The competition was high-scoring, averaging approximately 3.37 goals per match across 52 matches.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup
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