The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on the 24th that China has been confirmed as the host country for the 20-and-under (U-20) Asian Cup to be held next year.
On the 24th (Korean time), the AFC decided to award the hosting rights for the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup to the Chinese Football Association at the Competition Committee meeting held in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). It also announced that the tournament, originally held every two years, will be held every four years starting in 2028 as the U-23 Asian Cup.
The AFC plans to abolish the U-23 Asian Cup held as a 'non-Olympic qualifier' and reorganize the tournament to be held every four years in alignment with the Olympic cycle.
Additionally, the AFC announced that since the FIFA U-17 World Cup will expand to a 48-team format and be held annually starting next year, the AFC will also hold the U-17 Asian Cup annually.
The hosting rights for the 2025 U-17 Asian Cup were awarded to Saudi Arabia.
At this Competition Committee meeting, the AFC also finalized the match schedules and rules for the Asian Champions League (ACL).
Starting from the 2024?2025 season, the ACL will be divided into three tiers: the top-tier ACL Elite (ACLE), the next level ACL2, and the lowest level ACL Challenge League (ACGL).
The records and statistics of the existing ACL will be carried over to the ACLE. The records of the AFC Cup, which is currently a tier below the ACL, will be continued in ACL2.
Finally, the records and statistics of the AFC President's Cup, which disappeared after 2014, will be inherited by the ACGL.
The AFC added that these changes will take effect only after final approval by the Executive Committee.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s new head coach Lee Chang-won took charge of the U-19 national football team on the 20th and has begun preparations for this tournament.
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