With the change of venue for the 2023 Asian Cup in doubt, all eyes are on the potential successor countries. Currently, South Korea, Japan and Qatar have become the focus of media analysis of the candidates, and South Korea's local media, Chosun Sports, has also launched an in-depth analysis of this.
Recall that in June 2019, the AFC held an Extraordinary General Assembly in Paris, France, to officially announce that the country would be the host of the 2023 Asian Cup. However, our country suddenly announced its abandonment as the tournament approached its one-year mark, forcing the AFC to urgently look for a new host. Currently, the AFC has announced that it will announce detailed follow-up arrangements regarding the 2023 Asian Cup in a timely manner.
With only one year left to prepare, there are only a handful of Asian countries that meet the AFC's requirements. South Korea, with its rich World Cup infrastructure, is a popular candidate. Four countries, including South Korea, submitted bids to host the tournament, but in the end, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand all opted out, and the right to host the tournament eventually went to our country. The Korean Football Association (KFA) finally decided to shift its focus to the FIFA Women's World Cup, which it bid to host in the same year.
The Korean Football Association is also paying close attention to the subsequent arrangements of the AFC. The head of the association said, "Hosting an Asian Cup-sized tournament requires the willingness of the government and local authorities to participate in the first place. If Korea hosts, the Asian Cup will be the first time since 1960 that it has been held in Korea."
Meanwhile, Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, appears to be the most realistic option. "Qatar is emerging as the top nominee," Middle Eastern media outlet Arab News reported, adding that "Qatar's stadium facilities and business operations are all set for the World Cup in November. However, the final decision will have to wait to be revealed as Qatar has applied to bid to host the 2027 Asian Cup.
