India has officially entered the race to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, joining a record number of bidders vying to stage Asia’s premier men’s national football tournament. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Friday that seven bids, including one joint proposal, were received ahead of the March 31, 2025 deadline
Alongside India, the other contenders are Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and a joint bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Notably absent from the list is China, which had previously been awarded the 2023 edition but later withdrew due to COVID-19-related restrictions.
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa announced the submissions during the AFC Executive Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur, expressing enthusiasm over the unprecedented interest. “This record number of bids reflects the growing stature of the AFC Asian Cup, especially after the success of the 2023 tournament in Qatar, which drew 7.9 billion digital impressions and viewership across 160 territories,” he said.
The 2023 edition, originally set to be hosted by China, was relocated to Qatar, which had also hosted in 2011 and once again emerged as champions. The 2027 edition is set to be held in Saudi Arabia, making it the third consecutive Asian Cup in the Gulf region after the UAE in 2019 and Qatar in 2023.
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India’s bid marks a potential historic first, as the country has never hosted the AFC Asian Cup. If successful, it would represent a major milestone for Indian football and underscore the nation’s ambition to become a leading sporting destination in Asia.
Australia, a former champion and host in 2015, and Indonesia, which co-hosted the 2007 edition, are also prominent contenders. South Korea, despite being a two-time winner, has surprisingly never hosted the tournament since its inception in 1956. Kuwait, which hosted and won the 1980 edition, and the UAE, hosts of the 1996 and 2019 tournaments, round out the solo bids.
The AFC will now initiate the next phase of the selection process, including documentation review and a scheduled workshop for bidding nations later this month. The final decision on the host country will be made at the AFC Congress in 2026.
As anticipation builds, India’s bid could pave the way for a transformative moment in the nation’s footballing journey.
Prakhar Sachdeo
The Sportz Planet Desk
