Australia out of running to host 2023 AFC Asian Cup

The list of candidates to host the 2023 AFC Asian Cup is down to three after Australia confirmed they will not submit a bid.

Football Australia said they will be submitting a bid for the 2026 women’s tournament. Australia is also the host, along with New Zealand, of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“Football Australia maintains its strong interest in bidding for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and will submit a formal and comprehensive bid to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) within the required timeline later this year,” they said in a statement.

That leaves South Korea, Indonesia and Qatar remaining as potential hosts. All three countries have submitted an expression of interest to replace China as the 2023 host nation. The deadline for bids was August 31.

South Korea has confirmed they submitted a bid and it’s believed Indonesia and Qatar have as well.

Football Australia did not give a specific reason for not submitting a bid for the Asian Cup, but did confirm in July a bid would be contingent on government support and a moving of the dates to January and February 2024.

Australia will face competition to host the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup. The AFC said Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Uzbekistan have submitted expressions of interest in hosting.