Three Central Asian nations—Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—are gearing up to submit a joint bid to host the prestigious Asian Cup in 2035. This plan was revealed by sports expert Alisher Nikimbayev during an interactive session on his Futbolium Telegram channel.
"While I cannot speak officially, it seems that the plan is set for 2035, with encouraging signs from the AFC," Nikimbayev shared in response to a subscriber's query about the feasibility of such a collaborative effort.
The potential hosts are already preparing their infrastructure for the tournament. Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, is constructing a new stadium, complementing ongoing renovations of existing venues in Dushanbe and Khojand in Tajikistan. Uzbekistan, known for successfully hosting international football events, boasts several FIFA-compliant stadiums.
Uzbekistan recently hosted the Asian Cup for U20 and U23 players, showcasing its organizational capabilities. In 2023, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan co-hosted the senior CAFA Cup for the first time, further solidifying their experience in managing regional tournaments.
Emomali Rustam, President of the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA), first announced the intent to bid for the Asian Cup finals during the organization's 2023 congress.
"Our region has never hosted the Asian Cup finals before. It's time for this honor," Rustam emphasized.
Support for the bid has also come from Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), who praised Central Asia's capability to host the pinnacle of Asian football.
The Asian Cup, held biennially since 1956, is traditionally staged one year after the FIFA World Cup. Qatar, the host of the 2023 edition, clinched victory in a thrilling tournament that saw Uzbekistan's national team bow out in the quarterfinals after a penalty shootout.
Looking ahead, the next Asian Cup is scheduled for 2027, with anticipation building towards the potential milestone of Central Asia hosting the event in 2035.
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