The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially announced the completion of the application process for hosting the 2031 and 2035 Asian Cups. This news has the most joyous and historic aspect for us: Uzbekistan officially entered the field for the first time as a contender to host one of the continent's most prestigious tournaments - the Asian Cup.
Another important point is that, at the initiative of AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the hosts of the 2031 and 2035 continental championships will be determined simultaneously. This decision will undoubtedly intensify competition: countries will now make strategic plans for two major cycles simultaneously.
The list of candidates for hosting the 2031 Asian Cup is quite extensive and interesting:
- Australia
- India
- Indonesia
- South Korea
- Kuwait
- Joint application: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan
It is noted that the UAE Football Association withdrew its candidacy at the last stage. This can slightly change the competitive landscape and transform the opportunities for the remaining candidates.
It is noteworthy that Uzbekistan is participating in this process not alone, but together with its neighbors through a joint application. This approach has a great advantage: complementary countries in terms of infrastructure, logistics, and geography unite and demonstrate the possibility of holding a major tournament at a high level. At the same time, it can serve as an impetus for further increasing interest in football in the region and raising the quality of stadiums and services to a new level.
There is also high interest in the 2035 Asian Cup. It was reported that countries such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Kuwait have shown particular interest in the 2035 competition. Consequently, in the next cycle, competition among strong, experienced countries with great potential will remain very fierce.
In short, for Uzbekistan, this is not just a simple application, but a great goal and a door to new opportunities. If the joint application succeeds, there is a high probability that our region will become a football festival, infrastructure will be updated, and football culture will develop further. Now the most interesting question lies ahead: which countries does the AFC trust and to which locations will it hand over the Asian Cup?
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