Indonesia was pulled out of hosting the men’s Under-20 World Cup on Wednesday, just eight weeks before the tournament was due to start amid political turmoil over Israel’s participation.
FIFA said Indonesia had been pulled from staging the 24-team tournament starting on 20 May “due to the prevailing circumstances”, without specifying details.
The decision came after a meeting in Doha between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Indonesian Football Federation President Erik Thohir.
Israel qualified for its first Under-20 World Cup last June. But the country’s participation in Friday’s scheduled to draw in Bali provoked political protests this month.
Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country and does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel, while publicly supporting the Palestinian cause.
Indonesia’s hosting of the event was thrown into doubt on Sunday after FIFA postponed the draw.
It is unclear who may now host the tournament, which was to be played across six stadiums in Indonesia. Argentina, which did not qualify for the tournament, is reportedly interested in hosting.
“A new host will be announced as soon as possible, with no changes to the tournament’s dates,” FIFA said.
The Indonesian Football Federation may be further disciplined by FIFA. A suspension could rule Indonesia out of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup starting in October.
FIFA on Wednesday cleared all blame from Thohir, the former president of Italian club Inter Milan – the team Infantino backs – and former co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers.
FIFA staff will continue to work in Indonesia in the coming months, the governing body said, “under the leadership of President Thohir.”
Football and public authorities in Indonesia agreed FIFA hosting requirements in 2019 before the 2021 edition of the Under-20 World Cup was chosen to stage. The coronavirus pandemic forced the postponement of the tournament for two years.
But Indonesian President Joko Widodo said Tuesday evening that his administration objected to Israel’s participation. He told citizens that the country had agreed to host before Israel qualified.
Israel qualified by reaching the semi-finals of the Under-19 European Championships. The team lost to England in that final.
Israel plays in Europe as a member of UEFA after leaving the Asian Football Confederation in the 1970s for political and security reasons.
FIFA calls the Men’s Under-20 World Cup the “Tournament of Tomorrow’s Superstars”.
Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Paul Pogba are previous winners of the official player of the tournament award, and Erling Haaland was the top scorer in the 2019 edition.