China has apologized for not hosting the 2023 AFC Asian Cup due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the continental federation announced today, Saturday.
“After extensive consultations with the Chinese Football Association, the latter has informed the Asian Football Confederation of the impossibility of hosting the 2023 Asian Cup,” the Confederation said in a statement.
China was chosen as the venue on June 5, 2019 during an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly in Paris, and the tournament was to be held in 10 Chinese cities from June 16 to July 16, 2023.
The Asian Football Confederation said it would later decide on an alternative candidate country to host, noting that the last tournament of 2019 was held in the UAE and was a great success.
