South Korea in 5-way fight to stage football's Asian Cup and end 61-year hosting streak
South Korea's decision to enter the race for football's 2031 Asian Cup hosting rights looks set to reignite a bidding battle between the eastern powerhouse and influential Gulf states as the nation seeks to organise the tournament for the first time since 1960.
Advertisement
The Koreans announced their bid on Friday, confirming remarks by Korea Football Association president Chung Myung-gyu prior to his re-election that the country would seek once again to reclaim rights that have eluded it for decades.
The deadline for expressions of interest passed on Friday night and Chung's administration, which recently faced down a scandal over the appointment of national team coaches, faces a five-way fight for hosting rights.
South Korea's last bid came was a failed attempt to run the 2023 finals as a replacement host when China withdrew and it lost out to Qatar, which ended up staging the event in early 2024.
South Korea's Son Heung-min is centre of attention at a training session last June. Photo: Xinhua
With the United Arab Emirates hosting the 2019 edition and Saudi Arabia set to organise the next tournament in 2027, the prospect of four consecutive finals in the Middle East looms.
Advertisement
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Sunil Chhetri answers India SOS, as coach questions Hong Kong passport rules
India head coach Manolo Marquez has questioned the rules allowing Hong Kong to select a host of naturalised players, a day before the two sides clash in a crucial Asian Cup qualifier. Overseas Citizens of India cardholders have been banned from representing the country since 2008, while players with dual-nationality cannot be chosen. Hong Kong's squad for Tuesday's game at Kai Tak Stadium includes eight players, including controversial striker Manuel Bleda, who qualified after completing seven years' residency. Spaniard Marquez, who is reportedly on the brink of quitting his post, evidently wanted to have his say on the subject, given the question about the large overseas-born contingent came from an All India Football Federation employee. 'If I was Hong Kong coach, maybe I would do similar,' Marquez said. 'In my opinion, the rules should be the same for everyone. I accept dual nationality, if your father or mother are from the country. 'Other countries can select players if they played in their [domestic] competition. For me, this is not very fair.'
South China Morning Post
18 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium Asian Cup clash with India sells out
Hong Kong could play in front of a record home crowd on Tuesday after tickets for their Asian Cup qualifier against India at Kai Tak Stadium sold out. While the Football Association of Hong Kong China would not give an official figure, a spokeswoman said attendance would be 'slightly fewer' than the venue's 50,000-seat capacity. A sell-out would mark a stunning turnaround from last Thursday, when just 6,092 fans watched the city's team draw 0-0 in a friendly with Nepal at Hong Kong Stadium. Kai Tak bosses originally planned to only partially open the stadium, given reservations over likely demand. But, after a strong initial sale, more tickets, priced at just HK$80 (US$10) and HK$200, were made available. Fans have rushed to snap them up, and Hong Kong could break their 30-year-old attendance record, set when more than 40,000 reportedly crammed into Hong Kong Stadium for a 3-1 defeat to Yugoslavia in January 1995. The largest home attendance in 2024 came when 8,236 watched head coach Ashley Westwood's side beat Guam, also at Hong Kong Stadium, to seal qualification for next month's East Asian Football Federation Championship finals.
RTHK
4 days ago
- RTHK
Uzbekistan, Jordan to make maiden World Cup appearance
Uzbekistan, Jordan to make maiden World Cup appearance Uzbekistan players celebrate after qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Reuters Jordanians erupted in celebration after the country qualified for the World Cup for the first time. Photo: Reuters Uzbekistan and Jordan made history by qualifying for their first World Cup, while the pair will be joined in next year's tournament by perennial participants South Korea. Uzbekistan, one of the fastest-rising national teams in Asia, drew 0-0 with the UAE in Abu Dhabi to take the second automatic spot in Group A, although top place is still in play after already qualified Iran lost 1-0 to Qatar in Doha. Heading into the third round's final set of fixtures on Tuesday, Iran sit at the summit, two points ahead of Uzbekistan. The top two teams in each of the three Asian groups go straight to the World Cup, while those finishing third and fourth – the UAE and Qatar hold those slots in Group A – enter a fourth round of qualifiers. In Group B, South Korea confirmed their place in an 11th straight World Cup by defeating Iraq 2-0 in Basra. The victory, sealed by second-half goals from Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu, means South Korea reclaim top spot from Jordan, whose 3-0 victory against Oman earlier on Thursday ultimately proved enough to secure their participation at the expanded 48-team showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Jordan's King Abdullah II congratulated the team on social media. "This historic qualification is well-deserved by our team, which includes stars and cadres of whom we are proud," he wrote on X. "Special thanks go to our loyal fans who have been our support and encouragement." Ali Olwin netted a hat-trick as the 2023 Asian Cup runners-up etched their name in the record books. Iraq were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Ali Al Hamadi's foul on Cho Yu-min was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review. Iraq sit third in Group B, with Oman and Palestine still able to progress to the fourth round of qualifying. Palestine, who defeated Kuwait 2-0 in Ardhiya, host Oman on Tuesday, while Iraq face Jordan in Amman. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Australia will go head-to-head on Tuesday for the second automatic spot in Group C. Australia remain in pole position following their last-gasp win against group leaders Japan in Perth. Defender Aziz Behich was the home hero in front of more than 57,000 fans, rifling into the corner in the 90th minute to give Tony Popovic's side a crucial 1-0 victory. "We know there's room to grow and room to improve, but we've done something special tonight," said Popovic, who saw his team outplayed for long periods by an experimental Japan side. Saudi Arabia ensured the race for second place will go down to the wire courtesy of a 2-0 win against Bahrain in Riffa. Goals in either half from Musab Al Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al Obud saw Herve Renard's men stay three points behind second-placed Australia. However, the Saudis will have to win in Jeddah by five goals to leapfrog the Socceroos. "We've all played a part in getting us to this point. We want to go to Saudi Arabia and really finish the job off," said Popovic, who replaced Graham Arnold in the dugout in September. (AFP)
