AusLeisure

Saudi Arabia is set to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027 after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) withdrew its bid to stage the national team tournament.

With Saudi Arabia now the sole candidate to host for the tournament, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)’s bid will now be the only one presented to the 33rd AFC Congress meeting in Bahrain in February 2023.

Iran withdrew its proposal to host the tournament in October, while Uzbekistan was initially interested but stepped back in December 2020.

In a statement explaining its withdrawal, the AIFF said the hosting of big events does not currently fit into its strategic priorities, noting “our current focus is building the foundations of proper footballing structure before thinking of hosting bigger events like the AFC Asian Cup.”

Saudi Arabia has identified 10 stadiums across the three cities of Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah to host matches at the Asian Cup.

India hosted the 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in October while Saudi Arabia has submitted a bid to host the 2026 edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

The SAFF said that hosting the tournament would open “new horizons” for women’s football in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.

It faces competition to host the event from Jordan, Australia and Uzbekistan.

An announcement on the 2027 host city had originally been scheduled to be made in 2021 but this was delayed and a decision is set to be made at the AFC Congress in 2023.

World Cup hosts and Asian Cup holders Qatar stepped in to host the 2023 tournament after the original hosts China pulled out as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Image: The King Abdullah Sports City in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

Related Articles

7th September 2022 - Football Australia looks to host 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

17th October 2022 - Qatar named as host for AFC Asian Cup 2023

4th October 2022 - OCA awards 2029 Asian Winter Games hosting rights to Saudi Arabia

7th August 2022 - Saudi Arabia to bid for 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup

19th July 2022 - Australia, Indonesia, South Korea and Qatar express interest in hosting 2023 AFC Asian Cup

16th May 2022 - Covid-hit China relinquishes hosting rights for 2023 AFC Asian Cup

27th March 2022 - Saudi Arabia F1 Grand Prix to proceed despite attack on nearby oil depot

6th December 2021 - Formula 1 makes dramatic Saudi Arabian debut

30th October 2021 - Greg Norman to head up new $200 million Saudi-backed Asian golf series

31st May 2021 - Saudi Arabia secures World Combat Games 2023

1st February 2021 - Formula E confirms Saudi Arabian start with Asian legs postponed in part schedule for 2021 race series

16th December 2020 - Olympic Council of Asia awards Asian Games hosting to Doha in 2030 and Riyadh in 2034

28th April 2020 - Saudi Arabian investment fund acquires 5.7% stake in Live Nation

23rd April 2020 - Qatar and Saudi Arabia enter rival bids to host 2030 Asian Games

11th April 2020 - India bids to host 2027 Asian Cup

6th June 2019 - China named 2023 AFC Asian Cup hosts

28th September 2017 - First ever admission of women to Saudi Arabian sport stadium

15th October 2014 - Women’s sporting rights put Saudi Arabia and Iran on the defensive

7th July 2014 - Saudi Arabia announces plans to build 11 stadia

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.