Vietnam News revealed that the Asian Cup, originally scheduled to be held from June 16 to July 17 next year, was originally led by China, however, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) had to temporarily withdraw from the event due to the anti-epidemic policy and restrictions on viewing conditions.
Faced with a vacant hosting seat, the AFC urgently initiated an alternative to maintain the original plan and proposed that member countries share the burden. So far, it seems that only three countries have jumped at the chance: Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Japan.
All three countries have superior infrastructure and experience with major events, making them the most popular candidates. Australia, on the other hand, had been interested in bidding for the event, but pulled out due to preparations for the Women's World Cup. According to Australian media reports, the AFL will have difficulty hosting both events unless the schedule is adjusted.
Although Australia was the host of the 2015 Asian Cup, it doesn't appear to have much enthusiasm for the 2023 tournament. As a result, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Japan are the final contenders. If Qatar are successful, they reportedly expect the AFC to postpone the tournament to January 2024 to deal with climate challenges in West Asia.
