UAE up against six other bids to host 2031 AFC Asian Cup
The UAE face competition from six other bids to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup after a record seven Expressions of Interest were submitted to the Asian Football Confederation. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, president of the Football Association, confirmed the UAE's bid to host the quadrennial championship in a social media post in February. The UAE's bid faces competition from India, Indonesia, Kuwait, South Korea and Uzbekistan as well as a joint-bid from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Chairing the sixth AFC Executive Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the eve of the 35th AFC Congress, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa thanked the respective member associations (MA) bidding to host Asia's most prestigious international tournament. The AFC president said in a press release: 'The record number of bids that we have received is further testament to the stature and appeal of the AFC Asian Cup and on behalf of the AFC Executive Committee, I would like to put on record our sincere appreciation to all our MAs for outlining their ambition to extend and expand on our proud legacy.' Sheikh Salman said the high level of interest in hosting the 2031 Asian Cup "reflects both the high ambitions of the AFC's Member Associations and their increasing confidence in their own capacities and capabilities" to host a high-level tournament. Qatar hosted and won the 2023 Asian Cup, retaining their title with a 3-1 win over Jordan in the final. That tournament broke spectatorship attendance records and also achieved 7.9 billion digital impressions. The event reached an unprecedented global audience, with 60 broadcasters covering tournament in over 160 countries. 'The AFC Asian Cup is undoubtedly one of the greatest success stories and the last edition in Qatar firmly cemented Asia's flagship as one of the best football competitions in the world," said Sheikh Salman. The UAE has twice before hosted Asia's premier international football competition – in 1996 and 2019. The next edition of the tournament will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2027. The winning 2031 bid expected to be confirmed at the AFC Congress in 2026.
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Now with the new travel ban, that dream is shattered because of politics that we don't care about and have no control over," said the 46-year-old who attended the 2022 World Cup in Qatar which saw the US side defeat Iran 1-0 in the group stage. The prospect of Iran competing in a US-hosted tournament comes against the backdrop of a decades-long enmity, with diplomatic ties broken since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The two sides are currently engaged in high-stakes talks over Iran's nuclear programme, with the United States threatening military action if no deal can be reached. Trump said the new travel ban was prompted by a makeshift flamethrower attack on a Jewish protest in Colorado that US authorities blamed on a man they said was in the country illegally. The ban will not apply to athletes competing in either the 2026 World Cup or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the order said. Nonetheless, supporters who had dreamed of crossing the Atlantic to cheer on their team will no longer be able to make the trip. "Every Iranian has the right to support their team, just as much as any other country, whether the game is in America or in any other country," said Hasti Teymourpour, a 16-year-old football fan. Since his return to office in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" policy of sanctions against Iran and vowed that "something bad" would happen unless the Iranians "move quickly" towards a nuclear deal. Naderi, who called the ban "inhumane" and "degrading to all Iranians", still hopes the Iran-US nuclear talks will yield a deal that might persuade Trump to reconsider. The outcome of the US-Iran talks that began in April remains unclear, and many fans worry that even if they result in a deal, it may be too late for them. Some Iranians have refused to give up hope, however, seeing in the World Cup an opportunity to thaw relations. "Sports diplomacy can act as a strong catalyst and bring the efforts of political diplomats to fruition sooner," said political commentator Mohammad Reza Manafi. It could be "a great opportunity to help advance diplomacy between the two countries". In a memorable 1998 World Cup clash, Iranian players handed flowers to their American adversaries and posed together for photos -- a rare public gesture of goodwill between the nations. Iran won 2-1, a victory celebrated in Tehran as a source of both sporting and political pride. With the 2026 draw expected in December, it remains unclear whether Iran and the United States will face off again, but anticipation is building. "The two countries are not hostile to each other, this political discussion is for the governments," said 44-year-old day labourer Siamak Kalantari. Another fan, Mahdieh Olfati, said: "If we face the US again, we'll definitely win." "Ours are real players," the 18-year-old added. Manafi, the commentator, said a friendly before the tournament, possibly hosted by a third country, could help ease tensions. Such a game, he said, could help "achieve what politicians from both sides have not managed to do for years". Agencies
