Football chiefs halt Asian Cup bids after FIFA request
Asian football bosses said Friday they were stopping the bidding process to host the 2031 and 2035 Asian Cups after a FIFA request to move the continental showpiece to even-numbered years. Several countries including Australia, Japan and South Korea had thrown their hats into the ring to stage the 2031 and 2035 tournaments.
The announcement comes after the Asian Football Confederation recently met FIFA "concerning a potential revision to the international match calendar", the AFC said. "As part of this process, it has been deemed appropriate to halt the current bidding cycles to provide greater clarity and ensure a more structured approach to future host selections," the Kuala Lumpur-based AFC said.
Six bids were put in to host the 2031 showpiece: Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, as well as a joint effort by Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Australia, Kuwait, Japan and South Korea had also said they were interested in, or were bidding for 2035. "Given the far-reaching implications such a change would have on the scheduling and strategic planning of its premier national team competition, the AFC has initiated a broader review of its competitions calendar," the body said in a statement.
South Korea's football association said it received a letter from the AFC on Thursday announcing the bidding suspension. "Although unexpected variables have occurred, the association's will to host the Asian Cup remains unchanged," the KFA said on Friday. The next Asian Cup is in 2027 in Saudi Arabia.
