Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa today praised the State of Kuwait and six other national associations for submitting expressions of interest to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031, during his chairmanship of the AFC Executive Committee's sixth meeting in Malaysia.

Key Announcements:

1️⃣ Unprecedented Interest:

• Received 7 official bids – the highest in tournament history

• Includes individual bids from:
  • Kuwait • Australia • India • Indonesia • South Korea • UAE

  • Joint bid from Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan/Uzbekistan

2️⃣ Host Selection Timeline:

• 2027 edition confirmed for Saudi Arabia

• 2031 host to be decided at 2026 AFC Congress

• Technical evaluation begins this month with bidder workshop

3️⃣ Qatar 2023 Legacy:

• Record-breaking attendance and digital engagement

• Sets new benchmark for future tournaments

Governance Decisions:

✓ Approved reports from standing committees:

• Competitions

• Finance

• Professional Football

• Asian Cup Organization

Upcoming 35th AFC Congress (Saturday):

• Attended by Kuwait Football Association Chairman Sheikh Ahmed Al-Yousef Al-Sabah

• Key agenda items:
  • 2024 audited financial statements
  • 2025-2026 budget approval
  • Major reforms in Asian football development
  • Technical/refereeing education programs