In response to the controversy over Israel’s participation in the 2023 U-20 football World Cup in Indonesia, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has asked all parties to refrain from mixing sports and politics.

The Palembang football community, one of the city's candidates for hosting the 2023 U-20 World Cup, has rejected the Israeli team's attendance at the biennial event. Because, Israel is a country that colonizes Palestine.