AFC Asia Cup 2031: India has formally submitted its bid to host the 2031 AFC Asia Cup, one of Asia's highest-level football tournaments. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has issued an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), expressing their intention to host the tournament.
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AIFF Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan validated the submission on Friday, saying, "Yes, we have submitted the EOI to stage the 2031 Asia Cup. Now, let's see what happens next."
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Some other nations have also shown an interest in hosting the tournament. Seven countries indicated their interest before the AFC deadline on March 31. India is likely to get tough competition from veteran hosts like Australia, South Korea, and the UAE. Indonesia and Kuwait have independently filed their bids, while the three nations of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan filed jointly.
This is not India's first bid to host the Asian Cup. In 2022, India had bid for the 2027 edition, which was subsequently withdrawn. The AIFF is now however fully committed to getting the 2031 tournament.
India's credentials as a host are solid, with experience gained from staging the FIFA U-17 World Cup (men's and women's), the Indian Super League (ISL), and various international football tournaments in recent years.
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