Indonesia's WC bid under question

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia’s bid to host the 2022 football World Cup grew increasingly uncertain Tuesday as the deadline for the country’s government to file a letter of support for the bid loomed.

Prospective hosts must file a letter by Tuesday showing government support for the bids.

Minister of Youth and Sport Andi Mallarangeng was quoted by the Jakarta Globe newspaper Tuesday saying that the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) has to first focus on improving the standard of football in the country.

“We have to pull ourselves to the top of the Southeast Asian region again, then we’ll have to be one of Asia’s best. After that, we can talk about the World Cup,” Mallarangeng told the paper.

Mallarangeng declined to answer when asked if that meant the government would not support the bid. (AP)