China will transfer its hosting of the remaining Asia group A soccer World Cup qualifying matches to Dubai due to COVID-19 controls, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) said on Monday. China was set to host matches between Maldives, Syria, Guam, Philippines and China in Suzhou, where organisers had created a so-called sport bubble that would have allowed overseas players and officials into the eastern city without undergoing quarantine. However, the CFA said the city could no longer host the matches due to recent COVID-19 infections within the national soccer teams of Maldives and Syria. China is currently second in Group A and has three remaining games against Maldives, Philippines and Syria. In his debut match in charge of China's national team, former Everton player Li Tie led Team Dragon to a 7-0 win against Guam on Sunday.

Source: Egypt Today May 31, 2021 06:33 UTC