Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Indonesia could be barred from World Cup over refusal to host Israelis

By AP 28 March 2023, 5:03 pm 2 Edit
Protesters march during a rally against Israel's participation in the FIFA World Cup Under-20s, Jakarta, Indonesia, March 20, 2023. (AP/Achmad Ibrahim)
Protesters march during a rally against Israel's participation in the FIFA World Cup Under-20s, Jakarta, Indonesia, March 20, 2023. (AP/Achmad Ibrahim)

Indonesia could lose its chance to host a global youth soccer tournament, and its chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, after refusing to welcome a team from Israel.

FIFA cancels an important preparatory step after regional governors and protesters demanded Israel’s team be excluded, and the tournament, planned for May 20-June 11, appears to be on hold.

The official draw for group assignments in the Under-20 World Cup, was supposed to take place in Bali Friday, but FIFA canceled the event after the island’s governor, Wayan Koster, called for a ban on the Israeli team playing there.

The Israeli team, which will participate in the Under-20 world tournament for the first time, had been expected to be based in Bali, home to one of the six stadiums scheduled to be used for the tournament.

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