China confirmed as host of 2023 Asian Cup

By Michael Church

HONGKONG (Reuters) – China's willingness to demonstrate its ability as a future World Cup organizer was strengthened on Thursday as the Asian Football Confederation conferred rights on the country for the Asian Cup finals in 2023.

The rights were granted by acclamation to the AFCThe extraordinary congress in Paris after South Korea announced last month its intention not to follow up their bid to organize the quadrennial tournament.

China, which will host the tournament for the second time with the competition previously held on its soil in 2004, was one of four countries to have initially proposed to organize the competition to 24 teams. Indonesia and Thailand also submitted their applications before retiring.

"We thank you for your trust and support," said Du Zhaocai, China's representative at the Conference. FIFA Council, told the delegates.

"It's a great honor for China to host the 2023 Asian Cup. You know we're ready and confident to organize a successful tournament. I look forward to welcoming you all to China. "

The tournament will give China the opportunity to demonstrate its ability to stage a major football event and comes several years after President Xi Jinping has expressed his desire to see the country finally host the final phase of the World Cup.

As a result, investments in sports in China have exploded in the last six years since Xi – a well-known football fan – has taken power, although the national team's fortunes are still lagging behind main Asian countries.

China qualified for the World Cup only once, in 2002, and never won the Asian Cup, but was eliminated for the last time in the final in 2004. It was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Iran at the last edition in January.

However, billions of dollars have been spent in recent years to try to strengthen football in the country and AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa thinks that the organization of the Asian Cup can contribute to the future growth of this sport in the country.

"This is an important moment for football in Asia and beyond," Bahrain said. "Football has the potential to unleash the potential that exists in the most populous country in the world.

"We have witnessed the rise of the game under the leadership and investment of the Chinese government and we now have the chance, with this Asian Cup, to create a real legacy for world football.

"This will be the inspiration for tens of millions of children and the Asian Cup can serve as a launching pad for major Chinese teams of the future. More importantly, he can make football the number one sport in the country. "

(Additional report by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, edited by Sudipto Ganguly)