TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) stated that the nation is preparing to host the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, a regional soccer tournament in Southeast Asia. "We are currently awaiting the outcome of FIFA's collaboration with us as the host nation," PSSI Chairperson Erick Thohir told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday, July 28, as reported by Antara.
He explained that alongside Indonesia, Hong Kong is also likely to co-host the event. The FIFA ASEAN Cup, he noted, will be the largest football tournament in Southeast Asia under FIFA.
Erick believes FIFA is working to foster more competitions across East and Southeast Asia, following the success of similar events held in the Middle East and several African nations, known as the FIFA Arab Cup.
"The goal is to elevate the quality of competition among Asian nations ahead of future World Cups," he said.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup is part of FIFA's strategic investment, recognizing the expanding opportunities for football development across Southeast Asia and beyond.
He stated that the Indonesian government has offered its full backing, as expressed in a letter from President Prabowo Subianto to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
"[As for the next step,] we are waiting [for word from FIFA]," he said.
Erick expressed hope that FIFA will make a direct announcement within the next week or two. He added that he would warmly welcome the news, as it would mean staging a major football event in Indonesia throughout September and October.
Read: FIFA Boss Infantino Takes Aim at World Cup Critics
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