Bali To Host FIFA U20s World Cup Matches In 2023

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Denpasar has been named one of the six cities in Indonesia that will be hosting world cup soccer matches in 2023. The FIFA U20s World Cup will be hosted by Indonesia next year. The organizing committee has confirmed that some qualifying matches will be held in Bali. 

Indonesia’s Youth and Sports Minister Zainudin Amali told reporters on Friday, 23rd September, that the country is ready and excited to host the games. He said that the organizing committee and the regions are prepared to host the event with the utmost professionalism.

He said, ‘We continue to prepare the organizing committee and the coordination with provincial, districts, and municipal authorities. We are not only aspiring to become a host of a football competition but are also keen to showcase Indonesia. We also want to show that Indonesia can be a good host’. 

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This week the organizing committee and FIFA announced the competition’s mascot. The team has chosen a Javanese rhinoceros, named Bacuya, to be the emblem of the games. The Javan rhino is critically endangered and has been selected as a symbol of strength, unity, and diversity. 

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Minister Amali told reporters he is optimistic about Indonesia’s performance at the games, despite other nations having greater resources and being more experienced. He said that although he’s not set the Indonesia U20s football team a high target, the Garuda Squad must ‘exert all-out efforts to clear the qualification stage’. 

He said, ‘We must realize that if we target the championship, we must face more advanced and superior rival teams from Europe, Latin America, and Asia. I already urged the national team players to exert their efforts and, at least, pass the qualification stage’. The FIFA U20s World Cup will welcome teams from 24 countries. As the host, Indonesia automatically qualifies. The event will run from 20th May to 11th June, with the final being held in Jakarta. 

The U20s World Cup has long been a platform for rising soccer stars to build their presence on the international stage. Players like Carlos Tevez, Phil Foden, Christian Pulisic, and Danny Welbeck all kick-started their international careers at the U20 World Cup.

Tickets for matches have not yet been released. Anyone who wishes to apply for tickets can register their interest on the FIFA website and sign up for email updates. The playing schedule will be announced shortly, and a whole qualifying round of matches will be held in Bali. The games in Bali will be played at the Captian I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Gianyar Regency. Other games will be hosted in Jakarta, Palembang, Bandung, Surakarta, and Surabaya. 

It is hoped that the event will help showcase Bali and Indonesia as a destination for world-class sports. The government welcomes every opportunity to host international sporting events, including the World Beach Games in 2023. The Olympic event will be hosted in Bali from the 5-12th August 2023. This is only the second ever World Beach Games, and Indonesia is taking great pride in being a pioneer in the event’s evolution. 

It has been confirmed that the World Beach Games will feature fourteen sports, including aquathlon, beach handball, beach soccer, beach tennis, beach volleyball 4×4, beach water polo, beach wrestling, kite surfing, and 5 km open water swimming. Four new sports will be added to the program, as is customary with every Olympic Games. These could include beach basketball, beach rugby, or beach netball. A decision will be finalized and announced by the Association of National Olympic Committees soon.

Community leaders and entrepreneurs are also jumping on board the sports trend in Bali. This month local gym owners in Canggu have spoken out about their work in the martial arts space and their hopes to establish the area as a leading destination for sports tourism. 

Last week international boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao announced his new sports bar venue that will soon open in Seminyak. The Pacman Sports Bar and lounge is set to be a VIP venue offering exclusive entertainment and nightlife experiences.