AusLeisure

China will not host the AFC Asian Cup 2023 with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announcing today that it had been notified by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) that it could no longer host the 24-team international competition.

Facing ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks that has already caused the postponement of sporting events including the Asian Games and the World Indoor Athletics Championship, the CFA’s relinquishing the hosting rights for the Asian Cup, the AFC’s blue riband national team competition, indicates Chinese fears that the pandemic will continue to have an impact into 2023.

A statement, the AFC advised “the AFC acknowledges the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the relinquishment by China PR of its hosting rights.

“The AFC appreciates that China PR, the CFA and the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 LOC have made this very difficult but necessary decision in the collective interests of the AFC Asian Cup 2023, which has also provided the AFC the required time to assess the situation regarding the hosting of the AFC Asian Cup 2023.”

Advising that the AFC will shortly announce details about the next steps related to the hosting the tournament, the statement added “the AFC will continue to work closely with its commercial partners and stakeholders to chart the course forward and remains grateful to them for their understanding and support during this period.”

Seen as a stepping stone to China launching a bid to host the FIFA World Cup, the tournament was to feature new venues across its 10 host cities.

Among these venues, the Shanghai Pudong Football Stadium was completed last year while the new Beijing Workers’ Stadium, set to be completed later this year, was to host the final.

China won the hosting rights for the tournament in 2019, with the games having been scheduled to run from 16th June to 16th July.

Among hosting options available to the AFC, Qatar, currently bidding to host the Asian Cup in 2027, may be available having hosted this year’s FIFA World Cup.

Other nations might be the United Arab Emirates, which stepped in to host last year’s Twenty20 World Cup; Saudi Arabia which also has Asian Cup hosting ambition for 2027 and India, another bidder for the 2027 tournament.

Related Articles

13th May 2022 - Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore named as hosts of consecutive SEA Games from 2025

6th May 2022 - OCA announces postponement of Hangzhou’s Asian Games

22nd March 2022 - China’s latest COVID outbreak forces closure of Shanghai Disneyland

22nd March 2022 - Singapore looks to host 2025 World Athletics Championships

1st February 2022 - IOC aims for 30% venue capacity at Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic venues

13th January 2022 - Refurbishment completed on key venues for Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games hosting

29th November 2021 - Chinese Government takes control of half-complete Guangzhou Stadium project from struggling Evergrande Football

25th October 2021 - New Chinese COVID outbreaks sees postponement of Beijing and Wuhan marathons

4th October 2021 - UAE venues to operate at 70% capacity for Twenty20 World Cup

17th September 2021 - Opening of China’s National Games marks return of major spectator events

29th May 2021 - Shanghai’s Mercedes-Benz Arena hosts biggest rock concert in China since the beginning of 2020

11th May 2021 - AFC Cup matches scheduled for Maldives hub postponed ‘until further notice’

24th April 2021 - China domestic tourism activity returns to 93% of pre-pandemic levels

11th December 2020 - World Athletics announces second postponement of Nanjing’s World Athletics Indoor Championships

15th September 2020 - New Shanghai football stadium ready for match action

23rd August 2020 - Plans unveiled for new football stadium in China’s ancient capital

21st August 2020 - Beijing’s Workers’ Stadium demolished as part of China’s revamp of venue infrastructure

20th July 2020 - ICC postpones Twenty20 World Cup

10th July 2020 - China bans international sporting events until 2021

25th May 2020 - Organisers report progress of venues for China’s next National Games

1st May 2020 - China looks to FIFA World Cup hosting with new football stadia

4th March 2020 - Coronavirus fears sees AFL cancel Shanghai fixture

12th February 2020 - Coronavirus continues to impact China’s sports events

28th November 2016 - China’s plan to massively expand its sports industry

30th September 2016 - China targets hosting of 2030 FIFA World Cup

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.