The postponement of the Asian Games in Hangzhou and the Universiade in Chengdu seems to have become an unexpected prelude to a sporting event. The news of the transfer of the Asian Cup is a stone's throw away. The feast, which was originally scheduled to start next summer in ten cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, was abandoned a year and a half before the start of the tournament, so people can't help but look at it sideways. After all, China has invested a lot in the construction of facilities in various stadiums.
Against this backdrop, the Korean Football Association (KFA) has shown strong interest in hosting the Asian Cup. With the AFC promising to announce a follow-on bid for the 2023 Asian Cup soon, it would certainly be an excellent time for South Korea to make a decisive bid. This is not only an opportunity to raise the international status of Korean soccer, but also a test of the soccer diplomacy skills that KFA President Chung Mong-kyu specializes in.
It is worth noting that the South Korean Football Association (KFA) made a bid to host the 2023 Asian Cup, with Indonesia and Thailand also expressing an interest, but then withdrew its application and instead focused on bidding for the Women's World Cup.China was eventually awarded the right to host the 2023 Asian Cup at the AFC Extraordinary General Assembly (EGM) held in Paris, France, in June 2019.The tournament is the first of its kind to be held in the United States. South Korea won the first two titles at the inaugural Asian Cup in 1956 and hosted the second tournament in Seoul in 1960, and has not been associated with the championship or hosted the event since.
The Asian Cup is a major international event that attracts athletes from 24 countries. As a result, bidding countries need to obtain permission from the Korean government and consult closely with local authorities. However, there are not many countries that can fulfill the facility base strictly required by the AFC. In East Asia, only South Korea and Japan are qualified, while in West Asia, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia can meet the criteria. The KFA will make the final decision once the detailed proposal required by the AFC is ready.
