Iran, India and Bangladesh offer to host 2011 Asian Cup

AFC - Iran, India and Bangladesh have expressed their interest in hosting the 2011 Asian Cup.

The premier continental event, which is held once every four years, is rotated among the four zones (East, West, ASEAN and South-Central) carved out by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and it will be the turn of South and Central Asian countries in 2011. Of these, Iran has twice hosted the tournament in 1968 and 1976.

The last date for submission of all the relevant documents is July 29, 2005. AFC teams will then visit the countries to inspect the infrastructural facilities and a final decision on the hosts is expected in the AFC?s executive committee meeting in November 2005.

Four ASEAN countries - Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand ? will be co-hosting the 14th edition of the Asian Cup in 2007. But Thailand could be dropped or replaced by another ASEAN country after the AFC expressed dissatisfaction over their state of readiness and gave them a four-week deadline last month.

China hosted the 2004 Asian Cup which was won by Japan.