China backs out of hosting Asian Cup next year

Published on : 14/05/2022 – 12:21

With our correspondent in Beijing, Stephane Lagarde

The billboards announcing this Asian Football Cup, white letters on a purple background, were still proudly enthroned this week on the pediment of the old Workers’ Stadium undergoing reconstruction in the heart of Beijing, which, like the brand new Shanghai stadium, was to host the event from June 16 to July 16, 2023.

After long discussions, China therefore waived its right to host the competition, said the statement from the Asian Football Confederation.

Twenty-four teams were to participate in this tournament in ten Chinese cities. A new blow for sports fans here who, with the confinements and semi-confinements of Chinese megacities, have seen all amateur competitions canceled in recent weeks.

After Winter Olympics under bell in Beijing, the international sporting events to be hosted by China are postponed one by one. A week ago, announcement of the indefinite postponement of the Asian Games in Hangzou, initially scheduled for next September. Postponement again of the Asian Youth Games which were to be held in Shantou in December, the same thing for the athletics meetings in Shanghai in July and Shenzhen in August.

China had to notify the Asian Confederation a year before for the event to be rescheduled, but for the moment no indication has been given of a country interested in taking over. This also suggests that the Chinese zero Covid strategy could be maintained next year.