Excitement Mounts After Trio of Central Asian Countries Launch Joint Bid to Host 2031 AFC Cup

On February 24, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan officially submitted a joint bid to host the 2031 AFC Asian Football Cup. If selected, the 2031 tournament would be the first top-level football event hosted in Central Asia. Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) President Rustam Emomali – the eldest son of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon - displayed his enthusiasm following the bid. “Our Central Asian region has never hosted the final part of the Asian Cup. I think the time has come. Our region is represented by very strong teams, and I am confident that together with the fraternal countries, we will host the final part of the Asian Cup at the highest level,” he stated. Whilst a joint bid amongst Central Asia countries has stoked excitement for many in the region, they currently face strong competition to host the event. The UAE, Kuwait, Australia, Indonesia, and South Korea have all signaled their intention to bid to be the tournament’s next host. Whilst none of the three Central Asian nations have hosted a top-level football tournament, Uzbekistan has experience with similar events after hosting the AFC U-20 and U-23 tournaments and the Futsal World Cup in 2024. However, after attending the Futsal World Cup, Uzbek fan Farrukh Irnazarov is nervous that the authorities may not promote the event aggressively enough. “When Uzbekistan hosts an event like this, they’re very serious about it. However, unfortunately their biggest concern is security. [The Futsal World Cup] wasn’t heavily publicized, and many people weren’t aware we were hosting it,” he told The Times of Central Asia. To be considered for the bid, all three countries will need to complete stadium renovations by the time the AFC committee makes its decision in 2026. Uzbekistan is the most prepared of the three, with stadiums already at international tournament capacity in Tashkent, Namangan, Fergana, and Qarshi. A stadium with a minimum capacity of 50,000 seats is required for the final, and Bishkek has already volunteered. Tashkent and Dushanbe are also revamping their respective stadiums, as the host nations must have two cities with 40,000-seat stadiums for the semi-finals in the tournament. [caption id="attachment_30647" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] The Dolon Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] What is the AFC Asian Cup? The AFC Asian Cup is an Asian (plus Australia) football competition that has been held every four years since 1956. The previous tournament was held in 2023 in Qatar, which saw the host nation become champions. The tournament started with just four teams: South Korea, Israel, South Vietnam, and Hong Kong, playing a round-robin style tournament before expanding to 24 teams in 2019. Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have already qualified for the next tournament in Saudi Arabia in 2027, whilst Tajikistan and Turkmenistan need to win their group in the final round of qualification to participate. However, for the 2031 tournament, if Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan see their bid accepted, all three teams will qualify automatically. Central Asia’s best tournament result came with a fourth-place finish by Uzbekistan...

Kazakhstan Mandates Sports Federations to Help Detect Extremism

Sports federations in Kazakhstan will now be required to assist in preventing extremism and terrorism, under new provisions in the updated Law “On Physical Culture and Sport.” The amendment stems from concerns over the growing influence of religious movements in the sports environment, according to Vice-Minister of Tourism and Sports Serik Zharasbayev. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Senate session, Zharasbayev explained that the measure is being implemented in cooperation with the National Security Committee. “This provision was introduced in collaboration with the National Security Committee due to the need to address emerging risks. We are working within the framework of the Anti-Terrorist Center and have already developed a roadmap through 2027,” he said. Previously, sports federations were not involved in national security matters, but Zharasbayev stated that “the time has come” for them to take part in identifying potential threats and reporting relevant information to state authorities. Currently, the focus is strictly on preventive measures. In April, specialists from the Anti-Terrorist Center will begin traveling to the regions to provide detailed briefings on the new requirements. “By the end of April or early May, we’ll meet with all federations to clarify these norms. For now, it's solely about prevention,” he added. The government also plans to involve theologians with experience in countering extremist ideologies as part of the outreach. The urgency of the issue was underscored by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the fourth session of the National Kurultai in Burabay in early March. “Mazhilis deputy Yermurat Bapi has raised concerns about the country’s religious climate. Kurultai members Daniya Kydyrbayeva and Olzhas Suleimen have also noted the growing influence of non-traditional religious movements among youth, especially in the sports sector,” Tokayev said. He reaffirmed that while freedom of religion is constitutionally protected, “disorder and permissiveness are unacceptable.” The president called for preventing destructive ideologies and using regulatory frameworks to promote national unity. The new obligation for sports federations is part of a broader legislative package recently passed by the Senate in two readings. According to Deputy Asem Rakhmetova, the amendments aim to improve legal frameworks in the field of physical culture and sports, while also clarifying the division of powers between central and local executive bodies as part of ongoing administrative reforms. In total, the bill modifies two codes and five laws. Similar concerns have arisen outside Kazakhstan. In Russia, State Duma deputy Sergei Mironov recently requested that the Prosecutor General’s Office investigate MMA clubs for possible links to radical groups. He warned that the “uncontrolled functioning” of such organizations could pose a threat to state security, citing reports that terrorists involved in the Crocus City Hall attack had trained at one such club. Kazakhstan’s sports organizations are now being tasked with responsibilities beyond their traditional scope. As Zharasbayev put it, “Federations must pay attention to such risks”, and this is no longer optional, but a formal obligation under the law.