Australia has submitted an expression of interest (EOI) to host the 2031 men’s Asian Cup, while Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan have announced a joint bid for the national teams tournament.
Australia, which previously hosted the tournament in 2015 and is set to stage the Women’s Asian Cup next year, submitted its interest to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regional governing body yesterday.
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A spokesperson for national governing body Football Australia (FA) said: “Football Australia is delighted to confirm that it has submitted an EOI to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031 finals.
“This important step reaffirms our commitment to advancing the beautiful game in Australia on the international stage while adhering fully to the bidding process set out by the AFC.”
This latest bid comes after FA withdrew its interest in staging the 2034 FIFA World Cup due to a lack of confidence in world governing body FIFA’s bidding process, following reports that it had come under pressure to ensure Saudi Arabia won hosting rights.
Australia previously hosted the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 alongside New Zealand.
Australia’s bid for the 2031 Asian Cup, meanwhile, will come up against a joint bid from Central Asian nations Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, none of which have hosted the tournament before. However, Uzbekistan is set to stage the women’s event in 2029.
On social media platform Instagram, Central Asian Football Association president Rustam Emomali said: “The AFC Asian Cup is more than a football tournament, it is a celebration of unity, progress, and sporting excellence.
“Central Asia has a deep-rooted football culture and a passionate fan base, and we are confident that together, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyz Republic can deliver an exceptional tournament that leaves a lasting legacy.”
Other nations interested in hosting the 2031 event include the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Indonesia.
The next edition of the men’s Asian Cup is due to be staged in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
