Potential bidders for 2027 Asian Cup get more time
KUALA LUMPUR: Nations considering bids to host the 2027 Asian Cup have been given an extra three months to lodge expressions of interest due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Thursday.
The AFC had hoped to announce the tournament hosts as soon as possible to give them more time to prepare for the quadrennial continental championship, which was expanded to 24 teams for the 2019 edition in the United Arab Emirates.
In the light of the coronavirus pandemic, however, the AFC has decided to extend the deadline for expressions of interest from March 31 to June 30.
“The decision was taken in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic to allow member associations, many of whom have been affected by the global outbreak, sufficient time to meet their internal processes and timelines,” the AFC said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia, who have won the continental title three times but never hosted the tournament, are the only nation to have publicly announced their intention to launch a bid for 2027.
The next Asian Cup in 2023 will be staged in 10 cities in China, the second time the East Asian nation has hosted the tournament after 2004.
Qualifying for the 2023 Asian Cup, like most other football worldwide, has been put on hold as countries batten down to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Qatar, hosts of the next World Cup in 2022, won the 2019 Asian Cup where the tournament expanded from 16 to 24 teams.
Meanwhile, following the successful staging of the historic Women’s Club Championship 2019 - FIFA/AFC Pilot Tournament in the South Korea, the AFC has commenced an extensive survey exercise among its 47 Member Associations (MAS) to better understand the current status of women’s domestic club competitions.
Led by the AFC Competitions and Football Events Division, the survey includes five sections with 62 questions, encompassing the general information of domestic women’s leagues and clubs, administration details, youth development, inter management systems, promotion and commercial situations.