On July 15, heavy news came from Beijing: the deadline set by the AFC for submitting a letter of intent to bid to host the 2023 Asian Cup has come and gone, and the suspense of which country will come out on top as the host of the event is about to be revealed.
Following AFC rules, member associations wishing to bid to host the Asian Cup must first submit a letter of intent. At the end of the bidding process, the AFC management team will submit a report and recommendations to the Executive Committee, which will select the host of the 2023 Asian Cup. It is worth noting that the AFC had postponed the deadline from June 30 to July 15th.
Korean media broke the news that Japan has quietly given up on hosting the Asian Cup. Given that other member associations have been less aggressive in their bids and that South Korea has already submitted an early letter of intent, the likelihood of South Korea becoming the host of the Asian Cup has risen dramatically.
Japanese media Tokyo sports also pointed out that Japan seems to have given up on bidding for the Asian Cup, and the chances of South Korea becoming the host are extremely high. The executive director of the Japan Football Association said on the 14th: "The deadline for bidding is the 15th, and the places are still under discussion and review, but it is very difficult to bid."
At the announcement of the East Asian Cup team list, JFA technical director Yasuharu Antimachi revealed, "We're in the process of reviewing it, but the possibility of a bid is not high."
South Korea's chances have been boosted by the fact that Japan has almost given up on its bid. The Korean Football Association (KFA) formally submitted a letter of intent on the 30th of last month and it has been confirmed. In addition to South Korea, Australia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are also interested in bidding for the tournament, but South Korea's motivation is more prominent in comparison.
If it is finalized to be hosted in South Korea, it will be the first time in 63 years since the second edition of the tournament in 1960. The host nation will be decided by the AFC Executive Committee in October, when the 2023 Asian Cup is expected to kick off in grand style in South Korea in June or July.
