Thailand withdraws from AFC Asian Cup bidding

Kuala Lumpur, July 21 Thailand has followed in the footsteps of Indonesia and confirmed its withdrawal from the ongoing bidding process for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Friday, leaving China and South Korea as the remaining two bidders.

It is not yet known why Thailand withdrew from the bidding, but earlier this month, the AFC hosted a bid workshop for the bidding process, inviting officials from China, Thailand and South Korea to Kuala Lumpur to discuss the matter, reports Xinhua news agency.

It is believed that the final decision will be made in 2018.

South Korea, which has not hosted the tournament since 1960, is considered to ba major rival of China.

The United Arab Emirates will host the AFC Asian Cup 2019 between January 5 and February 1, when for the first time, the participants will be expanded from 16 to 24.