Jakarta. Indonesia has officially submitted its bid to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, joining eight other candidates vying for the right to stage Asia’s premier international football tournament.

According to the Asian Football Confederation, a total of nine bids have been received. Three Central Asian nations — Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — submitted a joint proposal, while Indonesia is competing individually against Australia, India, South Korea, and Kuwait.

The AFC also said the United Arab Emirates has withdrawn from the bidding process.

Indonesia previously co-hosted the Asian Cup in 2007 alongside Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. During that edition, Indonesia hosted Group D matches featuring Indonesia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea.

Beyond the group stage, Indonesia also staged several key fixtures, including Saudi Arabia’s quarterfinal clash with Uzbekistan at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

The third-place playoff between South Korea and Japan was held at Jakabaring Stadium in Palembang, while the final — contested by Iraq and Saudi Arabia — also took place at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

Indonesia now faces stiff regional competition. Australia brings experience from hosting the 2015 Asian Cup, South Korea offers advanced stadium infrastructure and strong commercial backing, while India is positioning its bid around its rapidly expanding football market.

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