Australia announced on Friday that it was withdrawing its bid to host the 2023 Asian Cup, which must be reallocated due to China's withdrawal due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Alongside South Korea, Qatar and Indonesia, Australia was among the candidates to host the competition announced on July 18 by the Asian Confederation, which is due to make its decision on October 17.
Read alsoCovid-19: China gives up organizing the Asian Football Cup in 2023
In a press release published on Friday, the Australian federation announced that it was withdrawing its candidacy, without specifying the reasons, while stressing its "great interest" in hosting the Women's Asian Cup in 2026.
China was scheduled to host the competition in June and July 2023, but withdrew from hosting the tournament last June due to “exceptional circumstances caused by the Covid-19 pandemic”.
