A Japan Football Association official on Wednesday expressed concern that his country’s chances of hosting the 2023 AFC Asian Cup following China’s withdrawal due to the coronavirus pandemic were “negligible” two days before the nominations close. .

At the end of June, South Korea officially submitted a candidacy to host the final instead of China. In response to a question about whether the Japan Football Association intends to make an offer, Yasuharu Surimachi, the association’s technical director, said: “We are looking into the matter, but there is little chance.”
The tournament is scheduled to be held in 10 Chinese cities with 24 teams between June 16 and July 16, 2023, but he apologized for not hosting it due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in mid-May. .
The Asian Football Confederation has opened the door for its member national federations to express their desire to host the tournament, which takes place every four years, stating that interested countries must submit their nominations before the June 30 before extending the deadline to the middle of this month. .
Japan, which won the continental title four times in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011, hosted the final in 1992.