AFC Asian Cup: football bosses set June 30 deadline for bids to host 2023 tournament after China withdrawal
- Asian Football Confederation begins process of finding new venue, with Japan a possible replacement
- The governing body’s executive committee expected to make its decision after June 30
The Asian Football Confederation set a deadline of June 30 for member associations to submit new bids, after which officials will make a decision on the host.
In May, the AFC said China had pulled out as hosts of the 24-team Asian Cup, expected to take place from June to July next year, as the country pursues a zero-Covid policy – a stance that makes staging sports events a major challenge.
At the time, local organisers said they could not “pledge at this moment to hold next year’s Asian Cup competition under a fully open model”.
“After negotiations between the AFC, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC), a joint decision has been made to remove the 2023 Asian Cup from China to a new host which is to be confirmed soon,” the Chinese Organising Committee said in a statement.
Following the decision, the AFC gave its executive committee the power to pick the next hosts.
Japan Football Association chairman Kozo Tashima recently told local media that his country had been “sounded out” about holding the tournament next year.