After withdrawing bid for 2027, AIFF keen to host Asian Cup in 2031

Marcus Mergulhao / TNN / Apr 12, 2025, 00:15 IST

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After withdrawing bid for 2027, AIFF keen to host Asian Cup in 2031

Besides India, six others have expressed interest in hosting the continental showpiece. It includes Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and a joint bid from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Panaji: Two years after withdrawing a bid to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has now officially shown interest in hosting the 2031 edition of Asian football’s most prestigious national team tournament.
With Praful Patel as president, India had launched an ambitious bid in 2020 to host the Asian Cup 2027. However, when the new executive committee took charge in 2022 with former India goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey as president, the first major decision was to withdraw the bid, leaving Saudi Arabia as the only country left in the fray.
Now, AIFF has officially notified the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) of its desire to organise the quadrennial event.
Besides India, six others have expressed interest in hosting the continental showpiece. It includes Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and a joint bid from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

While UAE, Australia, South Korea, Kuwait and Indonesia (jointly with three other countries in 2007) have all hosted the Asian Cup in the past, the Central Asian countries and India, if selected, will host the tournament for the first time. The decision is expected at the AFC Congress in 2026.
“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,�?said AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. “The record number of bids that we have received is further testament to the stature and appeal of the tournament and on behalf of the executive committee, I would like to put on record our sincere appreciation to all our member associations for outlining their ambition to extend and expand on our proud legacy.�?br/>In Oct 2022, the AFC executive committee shortlisted bids from India and Saudi Arabia to host the AFC Asian Cup 2027. The AFC Congress was scheduled to select the ultimate host in Feb 2023 in Bahrain, but a few months before the decision, India surprisingly pulled out of the race, handing Saudi Arabia the tournament on a platter.
“As per the strategic roadmap of the federation, the AIFF management thinks the hosting of big events doesn't fit into the federation's strategic priorities,�?the AIFF executive committee had said in its statement. “Our current focus is building the foundations of a proper footballing structure before thinking of hosting bigger events like the AFC Asian Cup.�?br/>Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 edition of the Asian Cup.

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