First 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] Later on, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand withdrew for various reasons, thus China was designated to be the host on 4 June 2019, before the 69th FIFA Congress, in Paris, France.[5]
Chinese bid
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.[citation needed] In December 2015, the CFA confirmed their intention to bid for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[6] China 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.[7] Later, in March 2019, it was reported that after evaluation, China officially proposed to bid for the 2023 Asian Cup.[7]
The following were the host cities and venues selected for China's bid:[8]
- Beijing – Beijing National Stadium, capacity 91,000
- Changsha – Helong Stadium, capacity 55,000
- Chengdu – Chengdu Sports Center, capacity 42,000
- Guangzhou – Guangdong Olympic Stadium, capacity 80,012
- Luoyang – Luoyang Stadium, capacity 39,888
- Nanjing – Nanjing Olympic Sports Center, capacity 61,443
- Ningbo – Ningbo City Stadium, capacity 36,000
- Qingdao – Yizhong Sports Center, capacity 45,000
- Shenyang – Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium, capacity 60,000
- Tianjin – Tianjin Olympic Centre Stadium, capacity 54,696
- Wuhan – Wuhan Sports Center Stadium, capacity 60,000
- Xi'an – Shaanxi Province Stadium, capacity 50,100
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.[9] However, India submitted their expression of interest beyond the deadline that was set for March 2017.[10] 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 would have hosted before its deferral to 2021 and eventual cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[11][12] Instead, the country would later be the host of the 2022 edition,[13] which was later moved following the suspension of AIFF by FIFA.[14] On 26 August 2022, FIFA lifted the ban from the AIFF.[15]
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.[16] In the same year, the country will host the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with two other Asian countries Philippines and Japan. However, with China's withdrawal, Indonesia again resubmitted the bid to host the competition until it was withdrawn by AFC due to security reasons.[see below]
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.[17] Thailand expressed interest in bidding for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup[18] but was not in the final list of countries that submitted their bids for the event which was awarded to Australia and New Zealand.
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.[19] The eight host cities were Suwon, Goyang, Hwaseong, Cheonan, Gwangju, Jeonju, Busan and Seogwipo.[10] 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.[20] The joint bid was also withdrawn on 13 December, with no agreement made between FIFA and the South Korean government over the use of an organizing committee.[21][22] Following China's withdrawal from hosting, South Korea again submitted its bid to host the competition until it was failed.[see below]
Concerns and withdrawal
The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in China. However, on 14 May 2022, AFC announced that China would not be able to host the tournament due to the exceptional circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]
