"Due to the Impact of COVID-19," China Returns Hosting Rights for Next Year's Asian Cup Soccer Tournament

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] China has relinquished the hosting rights for the Asian Cup football tournament scheduled to be held for one month starting June 16 next year.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on the 14th through its website, "After extensive discussions with the Chinese Football Association (CFA), we have received an official notification from the CFA that they cannot host the 2023 Asian Cup."

It added, "We acknowledge the exceptional circumstances under which China has relinquished the hosting rights due to the COVID-19 pandemic," and stated that appropriate follow-up measures will be announced in due course.

With China giving up the hosting rights, the tournament venue is expected to be changed from China to another location. Previously, as COVID-19 spread in Shanghai, Beijing, and other cities, China postponed the Asian Games (September in Hangzhou) and the Universiade (June-July in Chengdu), both originally scheduled to be held domestically this year.

China was selected as the host for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup at the AFC special meeting held in Paris in June 2019.