Erick Thohir Inspects Readiness of Four Venues Ahead of FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) Chairman, Erick Thohir personally inspected the readiness of several stadiums in Jakarta ahead of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The four venues reviewed were the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Main Stadium, Madya Stadium, the ABC Field at Senayan, and PTIK Stadium in Jakarta, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

During the visit, Erick checked the condition of the pitch and grass at the GBK Main Stadium. While the inspection was underway, several staff members were seen carrying out routine turf maintenance. After GBK, the inspection continued to Madya Stadium and the ABC Field.

President Director of the Gelora Bung Karno Complex Management Center (PPK-GBK), Rakhmadi Afif Kusumo, who accompanied the visit, stated that the inspection focused on assessing the readiness of the main arena and its supporting facilities. "The inspection is to ensure the facilities are ready for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026," Rakhmadi said.

Rakhmadi revealed that overall, facility readiness across the GBK area was already usable. In fact, the GBK Main Stadium specifically had reached 86 percent readiness. "Overall, the GBK Main Stadium is at eighty-six percent. We are very confident that the other venues will also reach a mature level of preparation before the FIFA team's arrival, based on our calculations," he said.

Regarding the impact of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau, PPK-GBK affirmed its commitment to thoroughly clean the entire area before the tournament begins. "It certainly has been affected (by the volcanic ash), and we're cleaning everything up. We've just checked it, and so far everything is still in good condition, but we will continue to clean it again," Rakhmadi said.

After touring the GBK area, Erick continued his visit to PTIK Stadium on Jalan Tirtayasa Raya, Melawai, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. He directly inspected the stadium's condition, from the pitch and player transit areas to the restrooms, while also coordinating with PTIK officials to ensure player safety during training.

As a training venue for the national team, Erick urged that all player needs be properly met to support optimal performance. "I'll be back here again later to boost the players' spirits," he said.

The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 tournament will kick off on Friday, September 25, with the final match set for Monday, October 5. As hosts, Indonesia will compete in Group A alongside Singapore, Bangladesh, and Malaysia, with matches held at the GBK Main Stadium. Group B consists of Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan, with their matches held at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung.