KUALA LUMPUR, June 23: Four Asean countries have submitted bids to host the 2007 Asian Cup, the Asian Football Association (AFC) said on Wednesday. Southeast Asian countries Thailand, Malaysia , Indonesia and Vietnam want to stage the regional tournament but the AFC has not ruled out choosing co-hosts for the first time.

The AFC will announce the host country for the 14th Asian Cup at the end of the 2004 finals, being held in China from July 17 to August 7. The 2007 tournament has been brought forward by a year to avoid clashing with the European Championship football and the Olympic Games.

"We are looking at the possibility of a joint bid but it's too early to tell," AFC general secretary Peter Velappan said. "We are keeping the door open and (will) see how it goes."

Last month, the AFC announced that the 2007 competition would be held in the Asean region. Velappan was instrumental in convincing FIFA to accept an unprecedented joint bid from South Korea and Japan to host the 2002 World Cup.

The AFC has adopted a rotation policy for hosting the Asian Cup. Lebanon staged the last finals in 2000. Following the 2007 finals, the next Asian Cup - in 2011 - will take place in South Asia. -Reuters