The Manahan Stadium in Surakarta, Central Java, is set to undergo renovations in preparation for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will take place in May and June of this year. The renovations will be funded through the 2023 State Budget and carried out by the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry. According to Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka, work on the stadium will begin on January 20 and is expected to take at least 2-3 months to complete. During this time, the stadium will be closed to the public.
In a statement, Mayor Raka said, “We are pleased to announce that we have received notification from the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry regarding the upcoming renovations to the Manahan Stadium. These renovations are being undertaken in preparation for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will take place in May and June of this year. The work on the stadium is set to begin on January 20 and will be carried out directly by the ministry.”
The Manahan Stadium will be closed to the public during the renovation process. The management of the city’s football club, Persis Solo, has been informed that the stadium will not be available for use during the second leg of the 2022-2023 League 1 season. The club’s director, Kevin Nugroho, has been asked to find a temporary home for the team at the Maguwoharjo Stadium in Sleman. The Nahdlatul Ulama organization has also been suggested to use the Sriwedari Stadium for the opening ceremony of their Sports and Art Festival, which is being held to commemorate the group’s centenary. The renovations will proceed as planned, even though the municipal authority is still waiting for a decision from FIFA and the Youth and Sports Ministry on whether the Manahan Stadium will be selected as a venue for the U-20 World Cup.
