Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) – The Philippine Azkals’ campaign in the joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers will be delayed after the Asian Football Confederation decided to change the game venue for Group A.
“The decision was made due to the mounting challenges faced by several participating teams in travelling to China PR,” the AFC said in a statement on Monday.
The Group A matches of the World Cup qualifiers are slated to happen this June at a centralized venue in Suzhou, China.
The AFC has yet to announce the new venue and dates of the Group A fixtures.
The Philippine Football Federation has been informed of the AFC’s decision, lamenting the huge financial impact on their part caused by the postponement of the matches as they have to cancel the team’s chartered flight today.
The national football governing body narrated in a statement that the Azkals are supposed to fly to Shanghai, China today, from their training camp in Doha, Qatar. All of the team members underwent two swab tests in the last 72 hours, the results of which all returned negative.
“With the developments, the Azkals have been told to stay put in Doha, while waiting for an official announcement from the AFC,” the PFF said in a statement.
The Stephan Schrock-led Azkals are supposed to face Guam on June 3, China on June 9, and Maldives on June 15.
The Filipinos will resume their World Cup qualifiers campaign without the services of team co-captain Neil Etheridge, Filipino German midfielder John-Patrick Strauss, and veteran national team mainstays Iain Ramsay and Carlie de Murga among others due to health and passport issues.
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The Scott Cooper-mentored national team is currently tied with China at second place in the Group A standings with two wins, two losses, and a draw for a total of seven points.
