2023 AFC Asian Cup bids

The bidding process for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup was the process by which the location for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup was chosen as the hosts.

Bidding process

The AFC Competitions Committee confirmed on 12 April 2016 that four countries expressed interest in hosting the 2023 AFC Asian Cup: China, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand.[1] Indonesia, however, was under FIFA suspension during that period. Those countries met the deadline to submit all documents on 31 March 2016.[2] The winning bid was originally set to be announced at the AFC Congress in May 2018,[3] but the congress was moved to 31 October.[4] China was designated to be the host on 4 June 2019, before the 69th FIFA Congress, in Paris, France.[5]

Following withdrawals, only China was in contention to win the hosting rights.

Bids

China

• China – In February 2013, China suggested interest in hosting the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Nine cities, Beijing, Dalian, Nanjing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Qingdao, Changsha, Guangzhou and Wuhan, were suggested by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) as potential host cities for the tournament. However, in September 2013, the CFA withdrew its bid to focus on player development.[6] In December 2015, the CFA confirmed their intention to bid for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[7] China has previously hosted the 2004 Asian Cup where they reached the final but lost 3–1 to neighbours Japan. It was reported that Beijing, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Xi'an, Wuhan, Chengdu, Qingdao, Shenyang, Changsha, Ningbo and Luoyang were suggested by the Chinese Football Association (CFA) as potential host cities for the tournament.[8] Later, in March 2019, it was reported that after evaluation, China officially proposed to bid for the 2023 Asian Cup.[9]

List of possible stadiums

Stadium	Host city	Capacity
Beijing National Stadium	Beijing	81,000
Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium	Tianjin	54,696
Tianhe Stadium	Guangzhou	54,896
Nanjing Olympic Sports Center	Nanjing	61,443
Shaanxi Province Stadium	Xi'an	50,100
Wuhan Sports Center Stadium	Wuhan	60,000
Chengdu Sports Center	Chengdu	42,000
Yizhong Sports Center	Qingdao	45,000
Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium	Shenyang	60,000
Helong Stadium	Changsha	55,000
Ningbo City Stadium	Ningbo	36,000
Luoyang Stadium	Luoyang	39,888

Cancelled bids

India

• India – India expressed their interest in hosting the competition having never hosted it before. The All India Football Federation was keen to host more international tournaments in the country including the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup because of a major infrastructural development of football in the country, by virtue of being hosts for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup and did bid for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup but lost out to Poland.[10] However, India submitted their expression of interest beyond the deadline that was set for March 2017.[11] Possible host cities included Navi Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kochi, Guwahati, Chennai, Kolkata, Margao, Pune and Jamshedpur. India later withdrew its bid in October 2018, and chose to focus on the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup which India will host.[12]

Indonesia

• Indonesia – AFC accepted Indonesia as a candidate on 12 April 2016. Indonesia previously hosted in 2007, along with Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. The AFC announced on 6 July 2017 that Indonesia have withdrawn from bidding.[13] On the same year, the country will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup with two other Asian countries Philippines and Japan.

Thailand

• Thailand – Thailand previously hosted in 1972, and also co-hosted in 2007 along with Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. On 21 July 2017, the Football Association of Thailand notified the AFC their decision to withdraw from bidding.[14] Thailand has expressed interest in bidding for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[15]

South Korea

• South Korea – South Korea expressed their interest in hosting the next tournament. South Korea last hosted in 1960, which was the second consecutive and last time they have won the tournament.[16] The eight host cities were Suwon, Goyang, Hwaseong, Cheonan, Gwangju, Jeonju, Busan and Seogwipo.[11] On 15 May 2019, South Korea withdrew their bid to focus on co-bidding for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup with North Korea.[17]

References

1. "China, Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand bid for 2023 AFC Asian Cup". Sportskeeda. 12 April 2016.
2. "Banned Indonesia vying to host 2023 Asian Cup". Malay Mail. Reuters. 12 April 2016.
3. "S. Korea selects 8 host cities for 2023 AFC Asian Cup". Yonhap News. Yonhap. 11 November 2017.
4. "AFC Executive Committee emphasises integrity of tender process". The-AFC.com. AFC. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
5. "China dreaming of Asian and World Cup double, says official". Alarabiya.net. Al Arabiya. Reuters. 6 April 2019.
6. "CFA withdraws 2019 Asian Cup bid". Global Times. 6 September 2013.
7. "China plans to bid for AFC Asian Cup 2023". English.news.cn. Xinhua. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
8. "中国携12个城市申办2023年亚洲杯 韩国成最强敌" (in Chinese). Sina.com. 10 July 2017.
9. "中国足协正式提出申办2023年亚洲杯 已经充分评估" (in Chinese). Sina.com. 15 March 2019.
10. "India to table bid to host the 2023 AFC Asian Cup". goal.com. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
11. "South Korea challenges China as it names cities for 2023 Asian Cup bid". insideworldfootball.com. 23 November 2017. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
12. "India to bid for U-20 Women's World Cup - Times of India". The Times of India. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
13. "Indonesia withdraws from 2023 AFC Asian Cup bid". Asian Football Confederation. 6 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
14. "Thailand withdraws from AFC Asian Cup bidding". Asian Football Confederation. 21 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
15. "Thailand prepares to bid for FIFA Women's World Cup". The Nation. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
16. "South Korea enter race for 2023 Asian Cup". insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
17. Stutchbury, Greg (16 May 2019). Mulvenney, Nick (ed.). "China all but confirmed as 2023 Asian Cup hosts after Korea withdraw". Reuters. Retrieved 19 May 2019.