Citing Pandemic, China Withdraws as Host of 2023 Asian Cup

A Chinese flag flutters at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China October 25, 2019. REUTERS/Florence Lo
A Chinese flag flutters at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China October 25, 2019. REUTERS/Florence Lo
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Citing Pandemic, China Withdraws as Host of 2023 Asian Cup

A Chinese flag flutters at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China October 25, 2019. REUTERS/Florence Lo
A Chinese flag flutters at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China October 25, 2019. REUTERS/Florence Lo

China relinquished its right to host soccer's 2023 Asian Cup on Saturday in the latest cancellation of the country's sports hosting duties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Asian Football Confederation praised Chinese soccer officials for making “this very difficult but necessary decision in the collective interests of the AFC Asian Cup.”

The 24-nation tournament was due to be played in 10 cities in mostly newly built stadiums in June and July of next year.

The four-yearly Asian Cup is traditionally played in January and February. Qatar (2011) and Australia (2015) hosted the tournament when it was played in January, while the 2019 event in the United Arab Emirates was held from Jan. 5 to Feb. 1.

China was due to host the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou in September but that was postponed along with nearly all international sports events in the country. China did host the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing though under a strict lockdown for athletes and officials with few fans able to attend.



Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi Stuck in Iran and Will Miss Club World Cup

Iran's Mehdi Mohebi, right, vies for the ball with a North Korean rival during their Asian qualifier group A soccer match for 2026 World Cup, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iran's Mehdi Mohebi, right, vies for the ball with a North Korean rival during their Asian qualifier group A soccer match for 2026 World Cup, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
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Inter Milan's Mehdi Taremi Stuck in Iran and Will Miss Club World Cup

Iran's Mehdi Mohebi, right, vies for the ball with a North Korean rival during their Asian qualifier group A soccer match for 2026 World Cup, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iran's Mehdi Mohebi, right, vies for the ball with a North Korean rival during their Asian qualifier group A soccer match for 2026 World Cup, at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Inter Milan forward Mehdi Taremi will not be able to join his teammates at the Club World Cup in the United States as he is stuck in Tehran amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.

Flights from all Iranian airports have been grounded following an exchange of military strikes between Iran and Israel over the last two days.

That meant the Iran international was unable to take his scheduled flight on Saturday to join his Inter teammates in Los Angeles.

Taremi will miss Inter’s opening match against Monterrey on Wednesday and Italian media reports said the 32-year-old will not feature in the other matches either regardless of whether Iranian airspace reopens.

Taremi joined Inter from Porto last year.