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Indonesia Have No Intention Of Teaming Up With Thailand And Australia As 2022 World Cup Co-Hosts

The south-east Asians want to go it alone...

Nov 21, 2009 3:38:40 AM

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Indonesia have confirmed that they are not about to change their bid for the 2022 World Cup and team up with another nation.

Since Goal.com’s article last month suggesting that Indonesia and Australia should team up in 2022, speculation in the Indonesian media has been rife that Jakarta was contemplating the idea of staging the tournament with another nation.

Indonesian FA (PSSI) chairman Nurdin Halid admitted that some neighbouring countries have expressed interest in co-hosting but insisted that Indonesia will continue the bid alone.

Hosting with other countries would not get a green light from FIFA, Nurdin said when asked about the possibility to co-host with another bidding country, Australia.

Nurdin also claimed that Thailand, through Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who is also the head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), also had floated the idea.

"The possibility to co-host is impossible, and would not be approved by FIFA. Indonesia still stands as a single host. Indonesia's candidacy to host the 2022 World Cup is a serious effort," said Nurdin.

Nurdin also urged Indonesian football fans not to underestimate the association’s desire to host the World Cup and claimed that the bid has a chance of winning.

"When compared with other countries that volunteered to host, they might have the advantage on one side, but not in other areas. Qatar has superior currency, but they lack other things," said Nurdin.

"So does South Africa. Their economy is not much different from Indonesia, but they can be World Cup host. So I remain optimistic that we can do it."

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