The Kuwait Football Association has officially announced that it has submitted its bid to host the 2035 AFC Asian Cup, in an important strategic step that reflects the country’s ambition to regain its position as a leading sports destination in the Asian continent and to host major football events on its soil.
Historical background and renewed ambition
This announcement marks a new chapter in Kuwait's history with the most important continental tournament. Kuwait boasts a rich footballing heritage, having been among the first countries in the region to achieve notable success in Asian football. Hosting the 1980 AFC Asian Cup stands as a highlight of this history, a tournament that saw the Kuwaiti national team, nicknamed "Al-Azraq" (The Blue), crowned with its only continental title to date. This lends significant historical and symbolic weight to the current bid. Kuwait's ambition is based on its previous experience in organizing regional and continental tournaments, such as the Arabian Gulf Cup, through which it has demonstrated its ability to manage major sporting events.
Official statements confirm readiness
In an official statement, the Chairman of the Kuwait Football Association, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, affirmed the association's complete confidence in Kuwait's ability to organize an exceptional edition of the tournament. He said, "We have great confidence in Kuwait's ability to host this important continental event, given the distinguished relations we have with Asian federations, in addition to the support we receive from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the West Asian Football Federation." Al-Yousef added that Kuwait has proven its organizational capabilities on numerous occasions, pointing to the widespread praise received for its recent hosting of the French Super Cup, which was well-received by all. He confirmed that work is underway to prepare a comprehensive bid file that meets the highest international standards, through the combined efforts of all relevant authorities in the country, to ensure that Kuwait's bid is the best among the competitors.
The importance and expected impact of the event
The significance of hosting the 2035 AFC Asian Cup extends far beyond simply organizing a sporting event. Domestically, it is expected to accelerate the development of sports infrastructure, including stadiums and training facilities, as well as other vital sectors such as transportation, hospitality, and tourism. The event will also provide an opportunity to ignite a passion for football among younger generations and inspire new talent. Regionally, this bid comes amidst the growing trend in the Arabian Gulf region to host major international sporting events, following Qatar's successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Saudi Arabia's preparations to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, further solidifying the region's position as a global sports hub. Internationally, the tournament will offer Kuwait a platform to showcase its culture, development, and capacity to organize a global event of this magnitude.
A strategic look towards 2035
It is worth noting that Kuwait had previously submitted a bid to host the 2031 World Cup, but its chances of winning appeared slim, given that West Asia (specifically the Gulf region) had already hosted three consecutive editions (UAE 2019, Qatar 2023, and Saudi Arabia 2027), thus favoring East Asian countries according to the principle of rotation. Therefore, focusing on the 2035 edition seems to be a well-considered strategic choice that gives Kuwait a better opportunity to prepare a strong bid and garner the necessary support to win the hosting rights.
