The final list of candidates to host the 2031 AFC Asian Cup has been revealed, with Tajikistan, alongside Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, included in the bid.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially concluded the submission period for associations expressing interest in hosting the 2031 and 2035 AFC Asian Cups. This process was initiated by AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who proposed that the hosts for both tournaments be confirmed in a single Congress.

The bidding process for the 2031 and 2035 Asian Cups has now ended, and the AFC will move to the next stage: collaborating with the candidate associations to prepare the full bid documentation in accordance with regulations and deadlines.

According to the AFC, six bids for the 2031 tournament have made it to the final stage, including those from Australia, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Kuwait, and a joint bid from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

An earlier bid from the UAE was withdrawn at the end of November. The AFC is expected to announce the host country in 2026. The 2027 Asian Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia.

For the 2035 tournament, the candidates are: Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Kuwait.

Interest in hosting the Asian Cup remains at a record level. According to the AFC President, this reflects the rapid rise in the tournament’s status, which, after the most recent edition in Qatar, has become one of the most prominent competitions in world football. The tournament set new records for attendance and digital reach, attracting dozens of broadcasters and audiences in hundreds of countries.

The AFC expects that the future hosts of the 2031 and 2035 tournaments will not only provide high organizational standards but also leave a legacy of infrastructure development, increased football interest, and an enhanced international image.

The final decision on the hosts for the 2031 and 2035 Asian Cups will be submitted for approval at the AFC Congress. 

Photos of historical sites, national dishes, and promotional videos—some created with artificial intelligence—are the core content of the TajikBorn project. Launched by two Tajik women living abroad, the initiative aims to introduce Tajik culture to a global audience.

The founders of TajikBorn, Anakhita Nazri and Mohitobon Jonon, are working to popularize their nation’s culture in three languages: Tajik, Russian, and English. They shared the details of their project with Asia-Plus.

National pride

Anakhita has lived in various countries since the age of 13. She graduated from the International Academy of Oman, the University of Management and Economics ISM in Vilnius, and the SolBridge Business School at Woosong University in Daejeon, South Korea.

Mohitobon, who grew up in Dushanbe, moved with her family to Pakistan, China, and later to the United Kingdom during her teenage years.

Anakhita recalls that a few years ago, when foreigners asked her where she was from, she would proudly say she was Tajik and from Tajikistan. However, she couldn’t find enough high-quality content on social media to accurately present her country.

"I saw how people from other countries proudly talk about their flag, language, and music. I realized I could also be proud of my people, and that sparked a sense of national pride in me," she says.

ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЕ Anakhita Nazri

According to Anakhita, her parents always told her to be proud of her Tajik roots and show the world that her people have a rich culture.

"I set myself the goal of proving that Tajiks can be modern, independent, educated, and still maintain respect for their culture and traditions," she adds.

Mohitobon explains that after finishing school, she became interested in studying Tajik language and culture. She believes that hundreds of Tajiks living abroad yearn for their language and cultural roots, and this inspired her to promote them.

ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЕ Mohitobon Jonon

How the idea came to life

According to Mohitobon, the name TajikBorn came about by chance. She and Anakhita connected through Instagram and began looking for ways to improve their Tajik language skills.

One day, Anakhita updated her profile description to read: "Tajik-born, South Korea-based." Later, Mohitobon added to her own: "Tajik-born, London-based." That’s when the idea to create the TajikBorn digital project was born.

"Before launching the project, we involved designers and people who were interested in this non-commercial initiative. Javonshir and Robiya volunteered to work with us," Anakhita recalls.

ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЕ Robiya, project designer

Today, TajikBorn is managed by four Tajiks from four different countries: Anakhita in Riga, co-founder Mohitobon in London, designer Robiya in Moscow, and social media manager Javonshir in Dushanbe.

"For us, the visual presentation and quality of content are very important. This helps attract a broader audience," say the founders. 

Getting to know ourselves: TajikBorn bridges gaps for the diaspora

Anakhita points out that many, not only foreigners but also some Tajiks living abroad, are not fluent in the Tajik language. That’s why the TajikBorn team publishes content in three languages. For many members of the Tajik diaspora, this page has become a kind of "introduction to themselves."

"In English-language media and academic circles, Tajik culture is still underrepresented. The main goal of TajikBorn is to make information about the history, art, and heritage of the Tajik people accessible in English," she says.

In just over a year, TajikBorn has transformed from a small social media project into an active digital community. The project's content has helped Tajiks from all around the world—many of whom had been seeking information about their history, culture, and language—better connect with their roots.

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"Tajik culture in the digital space is not just about photos of women in traditional costumes. Our goal is to break established stereotypes and showcase a modern state and culture. Tajiks are keeping pace with other nations, acquiring modern knowledge, but still respect their ancestors and traditions," explains Mohitobon.

According to the project’s creators, TajikBorn is followed by researchers, artists, designers, and foreigners interested in the cultures of Central Asia.

Additionally, the team uses artificial intelligence to "bring to life" historical photographs, paintings by artists, and images of national dishes, presenting them to the audience in a fresh and engaging format.

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TajikBorn also has its own set of stickers, created to promote the project. They can be purchased through the official page for 55 somoni.

"The goal of releasing the stickers is not profit-making but to promote Tajik culture. The funds raised go toward supporting the project," explains Anakhita.

For the founders, it is important that young people, in particular, take pride in their roots and present their culture in a modern way.

The founders hope that in the coming years, TajikBorn will grow from an Instagram page into a major cultural project.

Release from prison does not mean a return to normal life. A lack of documents, difficulties finding work and housing, and deep-rooted social stigma turn the reintegration of former inmates into a serious challenge — both for the individuals themselves and for society as a whole.

Formally, people who have served their sentences return to society with the same rights as other citizens. In practice, however, their post-release lives often begin with a complex set of interconnected problems that make it difficult to rebuild their lives and achieve financial independence.

Why reintegration matters

Reintegration is essential to reducing repeat crime. When a person has valid documents, a job and a place to live, they can support themselves and their families legally. Without these basics, the risk of reoffending rises sharply.

Supporting former inmates benefits society as well. It reduces pressure on prisons and law enforcement agencies and contributes to public safety. Experts note that helping someone reintegrate is far more effective — and less costly — than incarcerating them again after a new offense.

Documents as the first obstacle

One of the most urgent problems after release is restoring personal documents, particularly a passport. Obtaining one requires paying fines and state fees and having a registered place of residence. Without registration, the process can come to a standstill.

Without a passport, former inmates cannot work legally, rent housing, receive social benefits or resolve legal issues. As a result, they become trapped in a cycle where the absence of one document leads to multiple other problems.

Employment barriers

Although Tajik law does not restrict citizens’ rights based on a criminal record, employers often demand a certificate of no criminal record, even in the private sector.

“Today, employers almost everywhere require a certificate of no criminal record, even though the law does not mandate this. It creates a real barrier to reintegration,” says Nargis Zokirova, head of the Bureau of Human Rights and the Rule of Law.

Experts warn that the inability to earn a legal income significantly increases the risk of reoffending.

Housing: an unresolved issue

Many former inmates cannot return home after release. Some are rejected by their families, while others simply have nowhere to go. Tajikistan lacks temporary shelters or transitional housing programs, leaving many people homeless and further marginalized.

Women face double stigma

Women who have been imprisoned face particularly severe challenges. They experience double stigma — as former inmates and as women — and are often deprived of family support, judged harshly by society and face greater difficulties finding work and housing.

Limited state support

After release, former inmates can register as unemployed and receive a monthly allowance of 600 somoni for up to three months. Those without a profession may enroll in vocational training programs run by the Ministry of Labor.

Experts say this assistance is short-term and insufficient for sustainable reintegration. Tajikistan lacks comprehensive state programs that combine employment, housing and long-term support.

At the same time, the country has launched a five-year rehabilitation and reintegration program for individuals convicted on terrorism and extremism charges. Authorities report that 1,750 such crimes were recorded in 2024. More than 1,500 people remain imprisoned, including some convicted for actions that previously involved social media likes or reposts.

Shrinking role of NGOs

In the past, non-governmental organizations provided crucial legal, social and psychological assistance to former inmates. In recent years, however, this support has declined due to funding cuts.

“We stopped working in this area more than a year ago. Our legal aid offices in Dushanbe, Khorog, Bokhtar and Khujand were closed after funding was reduced,” Zokirova said.

Many of these initiatives had been supported by international donors, including the European Union, but now operate on a much smaller scale.

Who is still helping

One organization that continues its work is Otifa, a public organization based in Khujand and registered in 2017. It supports women who have been released from prison by providing psychological assistance and employment opportunities.

According to Otifa’s director, Sanoat Nourmatova, many of the women have been rejected by their families. The organization operates a sewing workshop where former inmates can earn a stable income, offering not only short-term relief but long-term support and a chance to rebuild their lives.

Wander through the atmosphere of an eastern bazaar in Khujand, breathe in the dust of millennia-old history in Panjakent, follow the footsteps of Alexander the Great, and watch the sunset over a turquoise lake — in Tajikistan’s Sughd Region, all of this can fit into either a week-long journey or a short weekend escape. Here, the legacy of the Great Silk Road is not an abstract concept but a tangible reality of fortresses, cities and trails open to every traveler.

To help navigate this rich mosaic of eras and landscapes, we have selected the key destinations in Sughd — places worth every kilometer traveled.

Khujand: the heart of the region

A journey through Sughd is best started in its administrative center, Khujand, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia.

The city’s main landmark is the Khujand Fortress, founded in the 6th–5th centuries BC and once besieged by the armies of Genghis Khan.

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Today it houses a historical museum, while the surrounding area has been turned into a landscaped park along the Syr Darya River.

A visit to the Panjshanbe Bazaar is an essential part of the Khujand experience.

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One of the most vibrant markets in the region, it attracts visitors not only with dried fruits and traditional bread but also with its striking architecture, considered among the finest in Central Asia.

Opposite the bazaar stands the Sheikh Muslihiddin Mausoleum, a religious complex dating from the 12th to the 19th centuries.

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It includes a mosque, a minaret and the tomb of the revered ruler, with particular attention drawn to the 19th-century minaret and the intricate ganj (alabaster) carvings inside.

Panjakent: the “Pompeii of Central Asia”

Another historic gem of the region is Panjakent, where history seems frozen in stone and clay.

On the outskirts of the modern city lie the ruins of Ancient Panjakent, a prosperous Sogdian city of the 5th–8th centuries.

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Archaeologists uncovered palace foundations, temples and residential quarters here. Famous wall paintings discovered at the site are now housed in the Hermitage Museum and the National Museum of Tajikistan in Dushanbe.

Nearby is Sarazm, a settlement more than 5,500 years old and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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One of the oldest known urban sites in the world, Sarazm offers rare insight into the early development of civilization in the region.

Not far away stands the mausoleum of Abu Abdallah Rudaki, the founder of Tajik-Persian poetry. Located in the picturesque village of Panjrud, it is an important cultural and spiritual site for understanding Tajik identity.

Natural treasures: the Fann Mountains

Sughd is a paradise for lovers of mountains and water.

The region is home to Iskanderkul, one of Tajikistan’s most famous lakes, named after Alexander the Great.

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Often described as the country’s calling card, it is accompanied by nearby attractions such as the 40-meter-high “Fann Niagara” waterfall and the neighboring Snake Lake.

Equally striking are the Marghuzor Lakes, known as Haft Kul, a chain of seven lakes set in the Shing River gorge.

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Each lake has its own distinct hue, ranging from pale blue to deep violet. Six lakes are accessible by car, while the seventh — Hazorchashma, or “Thousand Springs” — can be reached via a scenic hiking trail.

The Alauddin Lakes, located in the heart of the Fann Mountains, are renowned for their dramatic alpine scenery and crystal-clear waters.

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Nearby is the Artuch mountaineering base, a starting point for serious trekking routes, surrounded by relic juniper forests.

Istaravshan: a city of craftsmen

On the road between Khujand and Panjakent, a stop in Istaravshan (formerly Ura-Tyube) is well worth the time. One of the country’s oldest cities, it is famous for its craft traditions.

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The reconstructed Mug Fortress rises above the city, offering panoramic views. Another highlight is the Kok-Gumbaz mosque-madrasa, built in the 16th century and distinguished by its massive blue dome — a rare example of Timurid-era architecture in Tajikistan.

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Istaravshan is also known for its metalworking traditions, producing some of the country’s finest handmade knives.

Arbob Palace and the Tajik Sea

After touring the region and returning to Khujand, several more sites can round out the journey.

The Arbob Palace, built in the 1950s on the outskirts of the city, is sometimes called the “Taj Mahal” of the Soviet era.

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It features hand-painted ceilings, carved wooden columns and a cascading fountain ensemble reminiscent of Peterhof. The palace blends Stalinist Empire style with traditional Tajik craftsmanship.

About 25 kilometers from Khujand lies the Qayroqqum Reservoir, often referred to as the Tajik Sea.

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Stretching roughly 55 kilometers, this vast artificial lake is a popular recreational area, home to sanatoriums, beaches and lakeside cafés.

After mountain hikes and ancient ruins, the Tajik Sea offers an ideal place to relax, swim and enjoy freshly grilled fish.

Local tour operators such as Silkway Adventure, Amir Tour, Orient Adventure, Rasul Tour and others can help travelers plan customized routes or join group tours.