Asian Cup Match Between Taiwan and China Overshadowed by Cheering Row

Taiwan to Face China in Women’s Asian Cup Quarterfinals

The quarterfinal stage of the Women’s Asian Cup will feature a highly anticipated match between Taiwan and China on Saturday. The game is expected to be marked by heightened tensions, as Taiwan has been competing under the designation “Chinese Taipei” at international sporting events to avoid conflict with China.

Former Taiwan men’s coach Chen Kuei-jen was removed from the Western Sydney Stadium during Tuesday’s 3-1 win over India after leading cheers for the women’s team. The incident sparked complaints from Taiwanese fans, who alleged that Chen was ejected for chanting “Taiwan” instead of “Chinese Taipei”. The AFC has declined to comment on the matter.

The match will see Taiwan, ranked 40th in the world, face defending champions China at Perth Rectangular Stadium. The winner will qualify directly for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Other quarterfinalists include North Korea and Australia, who will meet in a separate game on Friday, and Japan, who are set to take on the Philippines.

The AFC has confirmed that all semifinalists will automatically qualify for the 2024 Women’s World Cup. The four losing quarterfinalists will compete for two additional spots in the playoffs next week.

Source: Al Jazeera