On Saturday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced that China has officially decided not to host the final stage of the 2023 Asian Cup.The AFC emphasized that they are in close communication with all stakeholders to ensure that the tournament will be taken over by another region and that a new venue will be unveiled as soon as possible.
It was originally planned to be held in China from June to July next year, covering 10 cities, with 24 teams, including China, Japan, Iran and South Korea, competing for the top of Asia. However, the Chinese organizing committee had no choice but to announce that it was giving up its hosting rights in light of the current epidemic situation, stating that it was difficult to commit to hosting next year's Asian Cup in a completely open format and that the relevant arrangements could not be carried out as scheduled.
In its statement, AFC also expressed its understanding of the challenges faced by the CFA and the organizing committee. The Federation will continue to consult with its commercial partners and all stakeholders to ensure the smooth progress of the takeover and is committed to announcing a new venue as soon as it is confirmed.
