Dubai: The United Arab Emirates Football Association (UAE FA) has withdrawn its bid to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup, months after formally submitting its proposal in February 2025.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the announcement was made through the federation's official X account on Thursday. With the UAE's withdrawal, Kuwait remains the only Gulf state vying to host the championship, alongside Australia, South Korea, Indonesia, India, and a joint bid from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will coordinate with the national federations that have submitted bids, as the selection process for the host country continues. The tournament, which will feature 24 national teams, is set to be decided through a vote at the general assembly in 2026.
The AFC initially called on national associations to submit their bids for hosting the games on November 27, 2024, with the final nomination deadline set for March 31, 2025.