Football Australia Submits EOI For 2031 Asian Cup

Football Australia has submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) to host the 2031 Men’s Asian Cup, aiming to bring the prestigious tournament back to its shores for the second time.

The bid, submitted to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), follows Australia’s successful staging of the competition in 2015, the 2023 Women’s World Cup and its upcoming role as the host nation for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.

The announcement comes as Football Australia aims to strengthen its commitment to regional football development, with a vision to deliver a world-class event that will build on the nation’s growing football culture.

Commenting on the expression of interest, a Football Australia spokesperson said: “Football Australia is delighted to confirm that it has submitted an EOI to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031 finals.

“This important step reaffirms our commitment to advancing the beautiful game in Australia on the international stage while adhering fully to the bidding process set out by the AFC.”

This move comes on the heels of Football Australia’s decision to withdraw from the bid for the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Reports indicated that Football Australia faced external pressures, which led to the decision to focus on regional tournaments such as the Asian Cup.

Australia’s bid will face competition from a joint submission by Central Asian nations Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, which have come together to propose a collaborative hosting effort.

The AFC is expected to review all bids in the coming months, with a final decision to be made in due course.

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