The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially submitted its bid to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, marking a renewed push to bring Asia’s most prestigious football tournament to Indian soil for the first time.
This announcement came during the AFC Executive Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur, where AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa revealed that a record seven bids were received to host the 2031 edition. Alongside India, the contenders include Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and a joint bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The surge in interest follows the resounding success of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup held in Qatar, which shattered digital and viewership records—clocking 7.9 billion impressions and reaching audiences in over 160 countries.
AIFF had earlier withdrawn its bid for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup edition
The bidding process officially opened in November 2024, with March 31, 2025, set as the final submission deadline. The AFC will now initiate workshops and engage in detailed discussions with the bidding nations before the final decision is made during the 2026 AFC Congress.
This move marks a significant comeback for the AIFF, which had earlier withdrawn its bid for the 2027 edition shortly after the new executive committee, led by President Kalyan Chaubey, took charge. That decision had effectively cleared the path for Saudi Arabia to become the sole bidder and eventual host of the 2027 tournament.
Should India succeed this time, it would be a landmark achievement for Indian football, cementing the nation’s growing ambitions to become a central hub for international sports events in Asia. Hosting the Asian Cup could potentially give a massive boost to football infrastructure and fan culture across the country.
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