July 22 – The travel challenges of the coronavirus pandemic in Asia have forced the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to revise timelines for the bid inspections and the final award of the 2027 Asian Cup, the confederation’s blue riband men’s national team competition.
The initial plan was for the selection of the host country to be made at the upcoming 31st AFC Congress on November 27, 2021. The AFC now says that the decision “will now take place in 2022”.
The AFC confirmed that there are still four nations are in contention for the hosting – India, Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Because of the successful expansion of the Asian Cup in 2019, hosted in the UAE, it had been felt that more time was needed for host nations to prepare any infrastructure in preparation for the tournament.
It was also to allow the possibility of other member associations who would not normally have considered hosting under the previously short timescale between award of hosting and the competition itself, to fully prepare a potential bid and infrastructure plan.
The 2023 Asian Cup is being hosted by China who were awarded the hosting rights at the AFC Congress in Paris in 2019.
“Given the ever-evolving nature and the prevailing challenges caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the AFC Executive Committee acknowledged the travel restrictions in organising the inspection visits to the Bidding Member Associations, which forms an essential part of the bidding process for the selection of Asia’s most prestigious men’s football tournament.,” said the AFC.
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