The intrigue surrounding the selection of the host nation for the 2031 Asian Cup continues to intensify. Following the official withdrawal of the United Arab Emirates from hosting the tournament, the number of countries expressing their desire to host the event has increased. Currently, Indonesia, Australia, and South Korea have come forward as individual contenders. Additionally, the Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan have submitted a formal joint bid to the AFC to host the tournament.
Renowned football analyst Alisher Nikimbayev has assessed the chances of the candidates. According to him, the Central Asian region is not currently seen as the leading favorite. The expert explained that certain infrastructure and organizational requirements set by the AFC have not been fully met by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
Nikimbayev highlighted that due to these factors, South Korea appears to be the strongest contender. However, the country also faces challenges. Many stadiums in South Korea were built for the 2002 World Cup, and over the years, AFC standards have been updated. Today, the majority of these venues do not meet modern requirements and would require significant investment for reconstruction.
As a second potential option, the expert also mentioned Kuwait. However, the condition of stadiums there is also less than ideal. Furthermore, it was noted that factors beyond sports infrastructure, such as political considerations, play a crucial role in the selection process. Often, the nation that demonstrates a greater need for hosting the tournament ends up winning the bid.
Based on his personal viewpoint, Nikimbayev considers South Korea the most suitable option for hosting the tournament. He argues that in recent years, major tournaments have predominantly been organized in Arab countries and Western Asia. Therefore, providing an opportunity to the eastern part of Asia would be a fair decision. Although Indonesia is also listed among the contenders, South Korea's bid is deemed more favorable by the AFC.
It is worth noting that the final decision regarding the host nation for the 2031 Asian Cup will be officially announced at the AFC Congress in 2026. Until then, the competition is expected to become even more intense.
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