Asian Cup could see first co-hosts

Asian Cup could see first co-hosts

KUALA LUMPUR: The next Asian Cup will be held in 2007 following this year's tournament in China and could involve co- hosts for the first time, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Monday.

The venue for the 14th Asian Cup, brought forward by a year to avoid clashing with the European Championship and Olympics, will be Southeast Asia, with AFC officials already studying several bids.

The AFC will choose the 2007 Asian Cup hosts at the end of the 2004 finals, which take place in China from July 17 to Aug. 7 with a record 16 teams involved.

Velappan was instrumental in convincing FIFA to accept an unprecedented joint bid from South Korea and Japan to host the 2002 World Cup. -- Reuters