Renovations of Manahan Stadium in Solo, Central Java have been completed, and the city’s mayor, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is now waiting for a decision from the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) on whether it can be used for the U-20 World Cup in 2023. The only thing left to do is the stitching or the grass repair activities, which will be done next week. According to Gibran, everything is ready for the event, including promotional activities that would involve public participation outside of banners and printed media. The city government of Solo, which is one of the six local administrations picked to host the event, has been preparing the stadium, and organizing activities and events for the upcoming tournament.
Gibran emphasized that the U-20 World Cup must go through, and if for some reason, Solo is not chosen as a host, the Manahan Stadium will be available for the last two home matches of the Liga Indonesia’s Persis Solo. He also mentioned that organizing the stadium for the tournament was a commitment from the city government, and all stakeholders had devoted their time and effort to making it happen.
Officials in Solo are still waiting for an official announcement from FIFA and the Persatuan Sepak Bola Seluruh Indonesia (PSSI) regarding its candidacy as a host city. Although the recent withdrawal of the drawing phase creates some doubt, Gibran stated that they would wait for official news from the organizations.
Stadium renovation, preparation, and organization have gone a long way, but the city government of Solo remains determined to see through this event. Note that this would be the first time for Indonesia to host a FIFA world tournament.