Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The First Vice President of the Uzbekistan Football Association, Ravshan Irmatov, shared his thoughts on the joint bid of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, calling it a historic opportunity for Central Asia.

Addressing the football community’s questions, Irmatov emphasized that the Asian Cup is the largest football tournament on the continent, attracting many candidates eager to host the event.

Currently, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is accepting bids, which will undergo a rigorous approval and official announcement process. Once this phase is complete, a comprehensive evaluation of the bidding countries’ capabilities will begin.

A special AFC inspection team will assess the applicants’ compliance with the established requirements. The confederation is particularly interested in promoting football across all regions of Asia. So far, the Asian Cup has been held in various parts of the continent, but never in Central Asia, which strengthens the region’s hopes for support.

Discussing the host country requirements and Uzbekistan’s level of preparedness, Irmatov highlighted that in recent years, Uzbekistan has successfully staged three major continental tournaments—the AFC U-20 and U-23 Asian Championships.

Initially, the AFC had concerns about Uzbekistan’s ability to organize such events. However, after all requirements were met at a high level and on time, those concerns disappeared. The preparations included upgrading hotels, logistics, transport infrastructure, and other key facilities to meet international standards. This allowed Uzbekistan to strengthen its reputation as a reliable tournament organizer.

Uzbekistan already has modern stadiums that meet international requirements, but hosting the key matches of the Asian Cup requires arenas with a capacity of 40,000–50,000 spectators. Work is actively underway in this direction.

Furthermore, neighboring countries have expressed their support for hosting the tournament. For instance, Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic) has already begun constructing a 51,000-seat stadium. Irmatov expressed confidence that, if the bid is approved, Central Asia will deliver one of the most spectacular tournaments in Asian Cup history.

Speaking about the tournament’s significance for the region, Irmatov stressed that hosting the event would be a true celebration for football fans. Asian football is rapidly evolving, with world-class stars coming to the continent and Asian players increasingly joining Europe’s top clubs. These players will all take part in the Asian Cup, giving local fans the chance to watch them live on their home stadiums.

Beyond thrilling football, the tournament will bring long-term benefits: the national team will enjoy the advantage of playing on home soil, ties with neighboring countries will be strengthened, football infrastructure will develop, and Uzbek football specialists will gain valuable international experience. Moreover, hosting the Asian Cup will draw global football attention not only to the region’s footballing potential but also to Central Asia’s rich culture, history, and tourism opportunities.

According to Irmatov, this major project will even impact youth football academies and serve as a key step in the region’s sporting development. “We will do everything possible to ensure the Asian Cup is held here,” he concluded.