Azkals to stay in UAE as World Cup schedule in China scrapped

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The World Cup governing body is currently having a hard time dealing with COVID-19 as it continues to wreak havoc.

Maldives, Syria, and the Philippines will no longer fly to China and follow the laid out schedule of the World Cup Qualifiers after several players received positive results for COVID-19.

Players from Syria and the Maldives delegation posted positive results that delayed the initial dates for the kickoff the World Cup Qualifiers.

Instead of the bubble in China where they have already prepared, all of the matches will now be staged at the Sharjah Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“These are indeed unprecedented times for everyone and on behalf of the AFC, I would like to thank the UAE FA for agreeing to host the Group A matches of the Asian qualifiers,” AFC General Secretary Windsor John said.

Aside from hosting Group A composed of China, Maldives, Syria, and the Philippines, the venue will also hold the matches in Group G.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia will be composing Group G but are yet to receive the final protocols before arriving.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Azkals are still in Doha and are continuing with their day-to-day practice and play drills under head coach Scott Cooper.