Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Iraq have submitted official requests to host the Asian playoff qualifying for the World Cup, following the opening of nominations by the Asian Football Confederation on April 16th.

According to AFC regulations, each group must be hosted in a different country, preventing any nation from organizing both groups together, thereby reducing the chances of any of the bidding countries winning outright.

The rules stipulate that the bidding countries must be among the nations representing the six teams qualified for the final round, preventing any country outside this framework from participating in the hosting race.

The host country will bear all hosting expenses, including full accommodation for the participating teams, representatives of the Asian and international federations, as well as the preparation of official stadiums and training facilities.

Despite the cost implications, the organizing country will gain the rights to sell tickets, which could serve as a strong incentive for the bidding nations, especially given the expected fan enthusiasm.