India has officially entered the race to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031, potentially marking its return to organizing a major international football event after the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is one of seven national associations to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Intense competition expected
India will face tough competition from several experienced host nations, including Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. A joint bid has also come in from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
AIFF Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan confirmed the development, stating:
The deadline for submitting bids was March 31.
List of Asia Cup 2031 Bidders: Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, UAE, and a combined bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
AFC Lauds Strong Response
AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa applauded the impressive interest shown by member nations, saying:
“The AFC Asian Cup is undoubtedly one of the greatest success stories and the last edition in Qatar firmly cemented Asia’s flagship as one of the best football competitions in the world.
“The record number of bids that we have received is further testament to the stature and appeal of the AFC Asian Cup™ and on behalf of the AFC Executive Committee, I would like to put on record our sincere appreciation to all our MAs for outlining their ambition to extend and expand on our proud legacy,” AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said in a media release.
Hosting History
Nations such as Australia, UAE, South Korea, and Kuwait have previously hosted the tournament. India, however, is aiming to host the AFC Asian Cup for the first time, signaling its growing aspirations in Asian football.