AFC Halts Bidding Process for 2031 and 2035 Asian Cups

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced a suspension of the bidding process for the 2031 and 2035 Asian Cups due to planned changes in the international football calendar. The decision followed consultations with FIFA, during which the possibility of moving the tournament to even-numbered years was discussed.

According to the AFC statement, adjusting the tournament schedule could significantly impact planning and the strategic development of the continent’s premier national team competition. Consequently, the confederation has initiated a review of its competition calendar and temporarily halted the current bidding cycle to ensure a more structured and transparent host selection process in the future.

For the 2031 Asian Cup, which will feature 24 teams, bids were previously submitted by Australia, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, South Korea, and a joint bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. For the 2035 edition, the contenders included Australia, Kuwait, South Korea, and Japan.

The Asian Cup, first held in 1956, was originally played in even-numbered years, with the exception of the 2007 tournament held across Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. Since then, the competition has taken place in odd-numbered years, except for the most recent edition in January 2024 in Qatar, which replaced China after the country withdrew due to COVID-19-related restrictions.

The next Asian Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in January 2027, with Qatar remaining the defending champion. The AFC’s decision is expected to help federations better prepare under the new scheduling framework and ensure clear planning for future tournaments.