South Korea’s bid to host the 2031 Asian Cup is set to spark renewed competition between the nation and influential Gulf states as it aims to stage the tournament for the first time since 1960.
The Korean Football Association (KFA) officially announced its bid on Friday, following statements from KFA president Chung Myung-gyu before his re-election, in which he reiterated South Korea’s determination to secure the hosting rights that have remained out of reach for decades.
With the deadline for submissions closing on Friday night, Chung’s administration, which recently overcame controversy surrounding national team coaching appointments, is now engaged in a five-way contest for the tournament.
South Korea previously attempted to host the 2023 edition as a replacement after China withdrew, but ultimately lost to Qatar, which hosted the event in early 2024.
The Middle East has dominated recent editions of the Asian Cup, with the United Arab Emirates hosting in 2019 and Saudi Arabia preparing to stage the 2027 tournament. If a Gulf nation secures the 2031 rights, it would mark four consecutive tournaments in the region.
The UAE, having previously hosted, emerged as an early frontrunner after confirming its bid, while Kuwait has also submitted a proposal to host the event for the first time since 1980.
Australia, which both hosted and won the tournament in 2015, has expressed interest in staging the event again. Former co-hosts Indonesia have also put forth a bid, while Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan have launched a joint proposal representing Central Asia.
However, the Central Asian bid is not seen as a major threat due to a lack of political influence, leaving the battle likely to be between South Korea and one or more Gulf nations—once again highlighting the power dynamics in Asian football.
Despite East Asia’s strong performances on the field, the region has not hosted the tournament since China in 2004. Japan, a four-time Asian Cup champion and regular World Cup participant, has only hosted once, in 1992.
South Korea, which won the first two Asian Cup titles in 1956 and 1960, has neither hosted nor won the tournament since—a surprising gap for a nation that has qualified for the World Cup 11 times.
The timeline for selecting the 2031 host has not yet been disclosed. However, given that Saudi Arabia was awarded the 2027 tournament at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress in Bahrain in 2023, it is expected that the decision will be made in two years’ time.
This timeline gives Chung and his team until 2027 to convince AFC member associations to bring an end to South Korea’s 61-year absence as Asian Cup hosts.
