Australia Sets Its Sights on the 2031 Asian Cup as Central Asian Nations Unite for a Joint Bid

Australia has officially expressed interest in hosting the 2031 men’s Asian Cup, while a coalition of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan has submitted a joint bid for the prestigious tournament.

Having previously hosted and triumphed in the 2015 edition, Australia is set to also welcome the Women’s Asian Cup next year. The submission of their expression of interest to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) was made on Monday, as confirmed by the confederation.

“Football Australia is thrilled to announce that it has lodged an Expression of Interest to host the AFC ASIAN CUP 2031 Finals,” a spokesperson for Football Australia stated in an email to Reuters on Tuesday.

“This significant step reinforces our dedication to promoting beautiful football both domestically and internationally, while fully complying with the AFC’s bidding guidelines.“

Despite having never before hosted the Asian Cup, the trio of former Soviet republics—Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan—are eager to make their mark, with Uzbekistan set to host the women’s tournament in 2029.

“The AFC Asian Cup represents more than just a football competition; it embodies a celebration of unity, progress, and excellence in sport,” remarked Central Asian Football Association President Rustam Emomali in a post on Instagram.

“Central Asia boasts a rich football culture and an enthusiastic fan base, and we are confident that together, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic will host an outstanding tournament that leaves a meaningful legacy.“

Australia and these Central Asian nations join a list of bidders that have previously submitted expressions of interest to the AFC, which also includes the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Indonesia.

The forthcoming edition of the men’s Asian Cup is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027.