In the face of the severe challenge of the Xinguang epidemic, the Chinese Football Association has recently informed the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) that due to the epidemic, the country will not be able to assume the hosting responsibilities for the 9th East Asian Cup soccer tournament to be held this year. At the same time, the association also confirmed that it will send its U23 national soccer team to participate in the event.
The East Asian Cup, a top soccer tournament organized by the East Asian Football Confederation (EAFC), is held every two years, with Japan, South Korea and China alternating as hosts. Looking back at the 2019 East Asian Cup, the tournament was successfully held in South Korea when the national second team coached by Li Tie came third. In accordance with the rotation practice, the ninth East Asian Cup in 2022 was originally scheduled to be held in China. However, under the shadow of the epidemic, the CFA decisively informed the East Asian Football Confederation of its inability to host the tournament, which is expected to face the possibility of moving elsewhere.
For the U23 national soccer team, the top priority this year is to prepare for the Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou in September. In this context, the East Asian Cup has become a valuable warm-up opportunity for the U23 national team. At present, the U23 national soccer team and the adult national team have arrived in Haikou on the same plane, began the isolation measures, and synchronized the opening of closed training. Among them, such as Zhu Chenjie, Dai Weijun and other players with the age of the U23 age group, will also be included in the preparation team of the U23 national team.
