The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) governing body received a record seven Expressions of Interest (EoI) to host its flagship Asian Cup national teams tournament in 2031.
The AFC invited its member associations to express their interest in staging the event last November, giving them until the end of March 2025 to declare their intent.
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The soccer governing bodies of Australia, India, Indonesia, Korea, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have submitted individual EoIs, while Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have said they are interested in launching a joint bid.
AFC president Shaikh Salman said: “The record number of bids that we have received is further testament to the stature and appeal of the AFC Asian Cup.
“Hosting the AFC Asian Cup has consistently provided tangible and intangible benefits, including infrastructure development, enhanced connectivity, organizational expertise, elevated football technical standards, and solidifying the host nation’s status as a global sports hub.
“The unprecedented level of interest we have witnessed reflects both the high ambitions of the AFC's Member Associations and their increasing confidence in their own capacities and capabilities to host a tournament as significant as the AFC Asian Cup.”
India’s union minister for youth affairs and sports, Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya, stated the AIFF’s bid had the country’s government’s support: “Hosting major sporting events has a profound and lasting impact on a nation’s sports ecosystem and infrastructure. Sports can serve as a powerful testimony of India’s rising global stature.
“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is leading India’s visionary bid to host the 2036 Olympics. There is also growing momentum behind India’s aspiration to host the Commonwealth Games once again.
“Given football’s immense popularity across the country, it is only natural that we are pursuing the opportunity to host the AFC Asian Cup. The government extends its strong support to the All India Football Federation’s bid to bring Asia’s biggest football event to India. Should we succeed, I am confident that football will get a big boost.”
The most recent edition of the tournament in Qatar broke attendance records, achieved 7.9 billion digital impressions, and had 60 broadcasters covering the Cup across 160 territories.
Saudi Arabia has already been confirmed as the host for the upcoming edition in 2027.
