Zheng Zhi (front, 1st L) and Al Kesen (front R) of China had their training in Bacolod, the Philippines, Oct. 14, 2019 as the Chinese national team prepared for its 2022 World Cup qualifier against the Philippines on Oct. 15. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Friday that the two World Cup qualifiers of the Chinese men's national soccer team against the Maldives and Guam will be held behind closed doors in Buriram, Thailand this March, amid the COVID-19 outbreak
BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced on Friday that the two World Cup qualifiers of the Chinese men's national soccer team against the Maldives and Guam will be held behind closed doors in Buriram, Thailand this March, amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to the original schedule, Team China will take on the Maldives at home on March 26, and then play away against Guam on March 31. However, both matches couldn't proceed as planned due to China's epidemic prevention mechanism and visa-related problems.
Players of China had their warm up in the training in Bacolod, the Philippines, Oct. 14, 2019 as the team prepared for its 2022 World Cup qualifier against the Philippines on Oct. 15. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
"After friendly negotiations with our counterparts from the Maldives, Guam and Thailand, the Asian Football Federation and FIFA approved the application that the two World Cup Asian zone qualifying matches will be held in Buriram, Thailand," said the CFA, noting that the date of the matches will remain the same.
"As the Thai authorities have requirements for local epidemic prevention and control, the two matches will be played behind closed doors," added China's football governing body.
China currently sits in second place in the five-team Group A with seven points from four games, eight points behind group leader Syria.
With only the top team from each of the eight groups and the four best second-place finishers advancing to the next stage, China is in danger of missing out on the final round of the Asian qualifiers. ■
