China Withdraws as 2023 Football Asian Cup Host Due to COVID-19

China withdrew as the 2023 Football Asian Cup host amid the surging cases of coronavirus in the state, football officials announced on Saturday.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said it had been "officially informed by the (Chinese Football Association) that it would not be able to host" the tournament.

"The AFC acknowledges the exceptional circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the relinquishment by (China) of its hosting rights," the governing body indicated in a statement.

The 24-team competition was supposed to be played across 10 Chinese cities in June and July next year. The AFC did not name a new host, saying only that "further steps" would be announced in due course.

Last week, the Asian country postponed the games, which were due to take place in Hangzhou in September.

“The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that the 19th Asian Games, originally scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 10 to 25, 2022, will be postponed,” said a statement on the official Games website.