The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially scrapped the bidding process for the 2031 and 2035 Asian Cups following a direct request from FIFA to overhaul the international match calendar.

In a letter sent to member federations on Thursday, the AFC announced that its flagship men’s tournament will be shifted to even-numbered years to align with global football scheduling.

The sudden move comes just six weeks after the AFC unveiled a high-profile list of potential hosts. Australia, Kuwait, and South Korea had expressed interest in hosting either the 2031 or 2035 editions, while Japan had specifically targeted the 2035 tournament. All of these bids have now been "abandoned in its entirety," according to the AFC.

The governing body explained that the decision followed "careful consideration" of FIFA's plan to restructure international windows.

By moving to even-numbered years, the Asian Cup is expected to be rescheduled for 2032 and 2036. This alignment places the tournament in the same summer windows as UEFA's European Championship and South America’s Copa America, creating a congested but synchronized global football calendar.

The current FIFA-managed calendar, which dictates when clubs must release players for national team duty, is set through 2030. This includes the 2027 Asian Cup, which is still scheduled to be hosted by Saudi Arabia starting January 5, 2027.

FIFA’s push for these changes arrives amid growing tension within the sport. The world governing body has faced significant criticism from domestic leagues and player unions for a perceived lack of consultation regarding the expanding football schedule.
Currently, a formal complaint is being reviewed by the European Union in Brussels, filed by stakeholders concerned about player welfare and the saturation of the sporting calendar.

While FIFA has yet to issue an official comment on the specific request made to the AFC, the collapse of the 2031 and 2035 bids marks a major shift in how continental football will be organized in the next decade.

Source: AP