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.
