Yonhap News Agency newly disclosed that our Korean Football Association (KFA) is actively preparing to bid for the 2023 Asian Cup. Football Association insiders revealed that the first meeting has been held on the 16th to explore the possibility of obtaining the right to host the Asian Cup. At present, although the specific conditions have not yet been made public, but the determination to host the Asian Cup has been very strong.
It is worth noting that South Korea successfully hosted the Asian Cup in Seoul in 1960, 63 years ago. Hosting it again would mean that South Korea would have another feast for Asian soccer.
The Korean Football Association (KFA) believes that the competition for the bid could become extremely fierce. Given the tight timeframe, the AFC will focus on the city's hardware facilities, stadium conditions, as well as business operations and development potential when evaluating potential host sites.
Among the many contenders, Japan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are seen as strong rivals for South Korea. Japan has just taken over the East Asian Cup tournament, which the country abandoned, while South Korea could utilize the sports facilities left behind during the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, had originally planned to bid for the 2027 Asian Cup, but is likely to move its bid forward to 2023. The UAE, which hosted the last Asian Cup, has also shown strong interest in the tournament.
In the face of these strong competitors, the head of the Korean Football Association confidently said, "We are not losing out to any country when it comes to stadium facilities and environment."
