Indonesia To Host 2018 – 2022 World Cup Indonesia has joined the race to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 The Indonesian football federation officially expressed interest in staging one of the tournaments to FIFA late Tuesday, becoming the sixth potential host to show interest ahead of Monday’s deadline. England, Japan, Qatar, Russia and a joint Spain-Portugal candidacy have already declared intentions to bid. Other contenders including Australia, a combined Belgium-Netherlands-Luxembourg proposal, Canada, China, Mexico and the United States are expected to enter the first stage of a two-year selection process before the cutoff. Though its team is currently No. 144 in the FIFA world rankings, Indonesia fulfills one major requirement of hosting the world’s most-watched sports event – it has a stadium capable of holding at least 80,000 spectators for the opening match and final. The government-owned Bung Karno Stadium in the capital Jakarta has a capacity of 88,000 and staged the 2007 Asian Cup final, when Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0. “Football is the most popular event in Indonesia, where its television rating beats everything else,” said Besoes, adding that joining the race would help speed up the development of players in a country of 235 million people. FIFA began the process of choosing the 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts two weeks ago. It will issue official bid forms next month, which must be returned by March 16. Candidates capable of providing around 12 stadiums each holding at least 40,000 fans can apply for either the 2018 or the 2022 tournament, or for both. “Ten years are enough for us to build, renovate or expand our stadiums to meet the requirement,” Besoes said. FIFA said no South American country can apply for either tournament because Brazil is hosting the 2014 edition. African countries can bid only for the 2022 event because South Africa is hosting next year. The hosts will be chosen by FIFA’s 24-man executive committee in December 2010. By ten years Indonesia will have at least 12 great stadium to host the event. Here is the list of potential city/stadium to host the matches of FIFA World Cup: 1. Gelora Bung Karno Senayan, Jakarta Bung Karno Stadium (formerly Gelora Senayan or Istora) is a multi-use stadium in Central Jakarta, Indonesia. Construction began on the stadium in 1960 and finished in 1962 in time to host the fourth Asian Games held in Jakarta in 1962. The stadium’s original capacity of 100,800 people was reduced to 88,000 as a result of renovations for the 2007 Asian Cup. The stadium projected to host 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup. Sport Event: * Host for the 1962 Asian Games (1962) * Host for SEA Games (1979, 1987 and 1997) * Joint Host for the 2002 Tiger Cup with Singapore * Host for the ASEAN Club Championship 2003 * Host for the 2004 Tiger Cup first leg Semifinal * Host for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup for Group D matches, the Quarter Final and the Final 2. Palaran Stadium, Samarinda Palaran Stadium is a multi-use all-seater stadium in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. It opened in 2008 and has a seating capacity of 60,000. It is used by Persisam, a local football team. The stadium was the main venue for the 2008 National Games and projected to host 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup. 3. Gelora Srivijaya Jakabaring, Palembang Jakabaring Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Palembang, South Sumatra Indonesia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 55,000 people. It was built in 2004. The stadium was the main venue for the 2004 National Games and projected to host 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup. Sport Event: * 2005 AFF Asean Cup U-20 (2005) * 2007 AFC Asian Cup for Group D Match, Third Place Play-Off * 2004 National Games 4. Jalak Harupat Stadium Jalak Harupat Soreang Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. Now it’s the home stadium of Persikab – Kabupaten Bandung and Pelita Jaya Purwakarta The stadium holds 40,000 people. 5. Rumbai Stadium, Pekanbaru Rumbai Stadium will be a multi-use stadium in Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia. The stadium will holds 70,000 people. It still building and will finish in 2010. The stadium will be the main venue for the 2012 National Games and projected to host 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup. 6. Gedebage Stadium, Bandung Gedebage Stadium will be a multi-use stadium in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The stadium will holds 70,000 people. It still building and will finish in 2010. The stadium will be the main venue for the 2011 South East Asian Games and projected to host 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup. It will be the home base for Persib Bandung. 7. Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium, Surabaya Gelora Bung Tomo Stadium will be a multi-use stadium in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. The stadium will holds 60,000 people. It still building and will finish in 2010. The stadium will be the home base for Persebaya Surabaya and projected to host 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup. 8. Tenggarong Stadium Tenggarong Stadium will be a multi-use stadium in Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The stadium will holds 60,000 people. It still building and will finish in 2010. The stadium projected to host 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup. More stadium will be build in Indonesia due to will be a lot of sport event will be held in Indonesia such as 2011 South East Asian Games (Bandung, West Java and Semarang, Central Java), 2013 Islamic Solidarity Games (Serang, Banten), 2016 National Games (Makassar, South Sulawesi or Medan, North Sumatra), and 2020 National Games (Bandar Lampung, Lampung or Serang, Banten). Indonesia also plan to bid the host of 2018 Asian Games beside 2018-2022 FIFA World Cup. If the bidding process succes it will be more and more stadium build in Indonesia, especially in Batam as the most developing city in Indonesia and projected to be a little Singapore and also in Bali as the central of tourism industry in Indonesia. No question, Indonesia will meet the requirement to host the 2018 – 2022 FIFA World Cup. Continue next time…