Several countries, including Australia, Japan and South Korea, have announced their desire to host the 2031 and 2035 editions.
The announcement came after the Asian Football Confederation recently held a meeting with FIFA "regarding the possibility of reviewing the international match calendar," according to the continental federation.
He added, “As part of this process, it was deemed appropriate to suspend the current bidding rounds to provide greater clarity and ensure a more organized approach to selecting future host countries.”.
Six bids were submitted to host the 2031 edition from Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, in addition to a joint bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Australia, Kuwait, Japan and South Korea have also announced their interest or intention to bid to host the 2035 edition.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said in its statement, “Given the wide-ranging implications this change may have on the schedule and strategic planning of the most important national team tournament (in Asia), the AFC has initiated a more comprehensive review of its competition calendar.”.
In South Korea, the football association reported that it received a letter on Thursday from the Asian Football Confederation announcing the suspension of the nomination process.
The Korean Football Association clarified on Friday, “Despite the emergence of unforeseen circumstances, the association’s determination to host the Asian Cup remains unchanged.”
The next edition of the Asian Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
