China are set to resume their much-delayed 2022 World Cup qualifiers on October 8 when they host the Maldives, according to a new fixture list unveiled by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
"Match Days 7 and 8 are now scheduled to take place on October 8 and 13, 2020 respectively while Match Days 9 and 10 are due to kick off on November 12 and 17, 2020," the AFC announced in a statement on Friday night.
"The latest decision has been taken with a view to completing the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 by November 2020 and to commence the subsequent FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Asian Qualifiers Final Round as well as the play-off matches for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Round 3 Qualifiers by the March 2021 match dates in the FIFA International Calendar," it added.
China sat eight points behind group leaders Syria when the COVID-19 pandemic forced all games in March and June to be postponed. Eight group winners and the four best runners-up will advance into the continent's 12-team final qualifying stage for the 2022 World Cup.
China's Wu Lei in action during a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Syria, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 14, 2019. /VCG
After taking on the Maldives, Li Tie's team will then face Guam away from home on October 13. They will encounter the Philippines on November 12 and their final group stage clash with Syria is to be played on November 17.
The AFC said it will continue to "monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety and well being of all teams, officials, fans and stakeholders as well as government travel and medical restrictions".
Meanwhile the AFC Champions League, which has been put on hold since March, is also expected to resume soon.
"We are approaching closer to the return of football," declared AFC general secretary Windsor John before adding "We have to wait for all the domestic leagues to start first."
As it stands, South Korea's K-League is the only major Asian topflight back to action, but the Chinese Super League and several other professional leagues are set to restart in July.
Beijing Guoan's Cedric Bakambu dribbles during their AFC Champions League clash with Chiangrai United, Chiang Rai, Thailand, February 18, 2020. /VCG
Earlier this week, the AFC released a statement confirming their plans to proceed with the 2020 Champions League despite the severe disruption caused by the coronavirus crisis.
"Competing Member Associations all agreed the central principle of finding the best way to complete the remaining AFC Champions League season in 2020 in two online meetings held on Wednesday by the Asian Football Confederation," read a statement.
"Following comments by the representatives in the meetings, the AFC will present the format and the dates of the club competitions for the final review, after which the proposal will be submitted to the AFC Competitions Committee for their approval."
(Cover image: Chinese players acknowledge fans after their 2022 World Cup qualifier against the Maldives in the capital Male, September 10, 2019. /VCG)