Covid-hit China relinquishes hosting rights for 2023 AFC Asian Cup

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.