It was reported that Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic have submitted an application to jointly host the 2031 Asian Cup. The first vice-president of the Football Association of Uzbekistan, Ravshan Irmatov, answered questions from the football community in this regard.
— On the possibilities of hosting the Asian Cup:
— The Asian Cup is the most prestigious football tournament on our continent. Therefore, there are many countries applying to host it. The AFC is currently accepting applications. At the next stage, it will approve them and officially announce them. After that, the process of studying the possibilities will begin. The AFC special inspection will determine how well the applicant countries meet the requirements. The Asian Football Confederation is committed to the further development of football in all regions of our continent. So far, the Asian Cup among national teams has been held in most regions. Central Asia has not yet hosted this tournament. We hope that the AFC will also offer our region the opportunity to host its largest tournament.
— What requirements are imposed on the hosts of the Asian Cup and are these countries ready for this?
— If we take into account recent years, Uzbekistan has hosted three major tournaments. When we submitted our candidacy to host the U-20 and U-23 Asian Championships, the AFC first thought about our readiness. Later, after we fulfilled all the requirements in a timely and high-quality manner, there was no room for doubt. Hotels, logistics, transport and other areas were brought up to international standards. Now, I think, in terms of organization, we have earned the trust of the AFC.
We also have international stadiums. But we need stadiums with a larger capacity. To host the most important matches of the Asian Cup, stadiums with a capacity of 40-50 thousand people are required. We are considering a number of projects in this regard. Our neighbors are also ready to provide all the conditions. For example, the construction of a stadium designed for 51 thousand fans has begun in the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, Bishkek. I am sure that if the tournament is handed over to us, Central Asia will be able to hold one of the brightest forums in history.
— What are the positive aspects of hosting the Asian Cup for us?
— First of all, this is a big holiday for football fans. Today, Asian football is developing. The best star players come to play on our continent, and Asians are going to the biggest clubs in Europe. All of them will take part in the Asian Cup and will hold unforgettable matches on the fields of our country. In addition, our national team will also try to perform even better on its territory. Our relations with neighboring and fraternal countries will be further strengthened. Modern football infrastructure will be developed, and our specialists will gain international experience.
The attention of the entire world football community will be focused not only on our football, but also on the tourism potential, culture and history of our countries. In turn, there will be an opportunity to contribute to the development of our country through football. Like all areas, football will develop only with comprehensive and comprehensive efforts. The impact of large projects will reach even the smallest football schools. Therefore, we will do everything possible to bring a tournament like the Asian Cup to our country, - the press service of the UFA quotes Irmatov as saying.
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