India Among Six Bidders to Host 2031 AFC Asian Cup Tournament

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed India as one of six bidders to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, Asia's premier international football tournament. India competes with Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, and a joint bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, following the withdrawal of the United Arab Emirates. India has never hosted the tournament before. The bid has government support and aligns with India's broader ambitions to host major global sporting events, including the 2036 Olympics. Previous bids for 2023 and 2027 were withdrawn, with hosting not a strategic priority at that time.