The Surge In COVID-19 Cases In The Southeast Asian Region Is Crazy, The 2021 AFC Cup ASEAN Zone Is Canceled

Illustration of AFC Cup (Twitter @AFCCup)

JAKARTA - Two Indonesian League 1 clubs, Bali United and Persipura, will certainly not compete in the 2021 AFC Cup after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) canceled the implementation of the ASEAN Zone group phase.

Quoted from Antara from the AFC's official website in Jakarta, Wednesday, the AFC canceled the ASEAN Zone matches which included Groups G, H and I with force majeure status because they could not find a centralized host for the three groups as COVID-19 cases increased. especially in Southeast Asia.

BREAKING🚨 #AFCCup2021 ASEAN Zone cancelled!https://t.co/NPZ3kxnRQ6

— #AFCCup2021 (@AFCCup) July 7, 2021

In addition, the AFC also stopped playing all matches in the 2021 AFC Cup playoff phase for the same reason.

Two Indonesian representative clubs, namely Bali United and Persipura, are in Groups G and H respectively. They are scheduled to compete in the period from June 29 to July 6, 2021.

However, until this news was published, there had been no Group G, H and I matches because no country was ready to become a centralized host in line with the global struggle, particularly the Southeast Asia region, against the addition of COVID-19 cases.

On the other hand, the group phase of the West Asia, Central Asia and East Asia Zones has been completed. Meanwhile, Group D, which will enter the South Asia Zone, will be held from mid-August 2021.

The AFC confirms that the 2021 AFC Cup will continue with the existing matches until the final of the tournament is held on 5 November 2021.