The debate on Iran’s intention to apply to host the Asian Cup for the third time after the previously hosting the 1968 and 1976 tournaments, is heating up in Iran with many finding the idea as futile.

The former head of the Physical Education Organization was interviewed in “Iran Today” radio program on the subject of the country’s bid for AFC Asian Cup 2027 and said, “the AFC’s much prefers to award the hosting of the AFC Asian Cup to other countries rather than Iran, and that is why Iran will not host the event in 2027.”

Seyyed Mostafa Hashemi Taba, former head of the Physical Education Organization, commented “We can implement and manage such project, however, from what we have all witnessed in the last few years in the country, management of the clubs has caused disappointment and despair, as it seems that we do not have a competent cadre of managers who can proficiently run their clubs and succeed in their jobs that is what is happening now. Finally, we have not and cannot respond positively to AFC requests. We have been maneuvering and using all sorts of tricks to circumvent the AFC bylaws. Maybe we can finally modernize and complete the stadiums, some of which have taken 10 years to complete, and prepare them according to the standards of the AFC, however, that is not all”.

* The cat and mouse game would not work in Hosting.

“In the first place, they give a commitment to AFC & FIFA that women will be allowed to enter the stadium, but it is not possible to play cat and mouse game with this subject. It is not very clever to usher a selected group of women to the stadium in Tehran for a show, but not allow them to enter in another city. I don’t think we can meet the demands of AFC by such ploy.”

 * AFC does not trust us.

Hashemi Taba in the interview with “Iran Today” program of Radio Iran, emphasized the fact that FFIRI is a repeat offender, with so many cases of non-compliance, provision of false information, player’s registration inaccuracies and false data on Iranian clubs legibility, AFC has lost its trust”

“Even now The AFC does not trust us. When we are about to complete the documents, the AFC is not sure if we have provided accurate and correct information and even worst, they know that we cannot meet the demands and standards set by the international ruling bodies. AFC is looking for countries that have provided the necessary guarantees and have a clean sheet in their history. They go to a place where there is no problem and they are comfortable thinking that the country is doing the right thing. Just submitting the request in a bid to host the Asian Cup is not a big deal, any member country has the right to do so with for the Asian Football Confederation. All the countries around the Persian Gulf have the necessary facilities and can easily host such an event. Even East Asian countries are ready to compete. I think the motive behind the bid by FFIRI, as it seems we are on the verge of registration, is just to announce that we exist.

* The regime does not consider count the Asian Cup amongst the priorities

“One of the missions of the Islamic Revolution is to present ourselves in the world and not to isolate ourselves. Due to the various predicaments in the country and the region, and with the world’s great powers, I don’t think the authorities prioritize this, namely hosting the Asian Cup, as an essential part of the sports project. This is a kind of involvement with the international community and we just cannot act in the global arena the way we want and by the ideologies that we think are right. Some time ago, I heard that one of the gentlemen suggested we establish an Islamic FIFA (…), and 20 countries announced their willingness to join. When they mentioned the names of the 20 countries, it was immediately apparent that these countries already face problems in FIFA and had been subject to sanctions and suspensions! I think that these 20 countries want to become members of this Islamic FIFA to take money from us. We can go through the registration process, then organize and host a few small events that nobody cares for, but what then?”

Meanwhile, Qatar has officially announced its bid for the AFC Asian Cup 2027