The Asian national team football championship will not be held in China next year. The Asian Football Association AFC had to look for a new location for the four-yearly tournament after the Chinese association returned to the organization due to the corona situation in the country.
In which 24 countries participate, the tournament will be played in ten Chinese cities between June 16 and July 16, 2023. The AFC says in a statement that it recognizes the “exceptional circumstances caused by Covid-19” and shows understanding for the decision of the Chinese.
China is trying to contain the corona crisis with strict measures. For example, the residents of Shanghai have been in lockdown for more than a month, and in other cities, such as the capital Beijing, the population is being tested frequently. Lockdowns are threatening due to rising corona figures.
Several sporting events have already been cancelled, such as the Asian Games, scheduled in Hangzhou in September, and the Diamond League athletics competitions in Shanghai (July 30) and Shenzhen (August 6).
The last time football was played for the so-called Asian Cup was in 2019 in the United Arab Emirates. Qatar crowned itself champion there.