MANAMA — For the very first time in its rich history, Saudi Arabia has been awarded the hosting rights to stage Asia's most prestigious men's national team tournament – the AFC Asian Cup 2027 – by the 33rd AFC Congress in Manama on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia submitted its bid to host the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup on Feb. 6, 2020. The competition was between India and Saudi Arabia, after Qatar withdrew, following its success in obtaining the rights to host the tournament in 2023 instead of China. National teams from a total of 24 Asian countries will participate in the tournament. Saudi Arabia have experienced immense success over the years, being crowned champions on three occasions (1984, 1988, 1996). Following the AFC Congress decision, Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said that the 2027 Asian Cup has full support from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. "We are committed to not only hosting a great tournament that will be memorable for all fans but also to developing and growing the game across Asia through offering new platforms for exchanges and access to new opportunities." He said: "Hosting major sports events, and football in specific plays an integral part in our country's transformative Vision 2030 to increase participation. I do not doubt that this tournament will inspire young boys and girls across the country to participate in sports and dream of representing their country one day." "I want to thank everyone involved in the bid over the last few years who helped bring this historical moment to life. Saudi Arabia's football fans have been strong supporters of the bid from the start, and I am confident that with their passion for football and unique hospitality, they will help make the AFC Asian Cup 2027 an exceptional one," he added. Yasser Al Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), also expressed his gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman for their unconditional support of the bid. Al Misehal said: "We are a country bound by a love for football, and the AFC Asian Cup is a championship that holds immense significance for us. It is the tournament where Saudi football experienced its finest moments in." "We want to thank all AFC Member Associations for their trust and hope to justify their choice by delivering the most memorable edition of this flagship competition. We look forward to welcoming fans from across the continent to experience our passion for the beautiful game, in addition to the diverse cultures and cities our beautiful country has to offer." The tournament will feature the most exciting talent from across Asia, with the qualifying phase to commence in October 2023. As the host, Saudi Arabia has pledged to focus on establishing programs to collaborate with all AFC Member Associations to create an equal playing field with new opportunities for all and supporting the development of youth football, bringing the next generation of talent into the game. The 33rd AFC Congress received a presentation on Saudi Arabia's bid to host the tournament in 2027. Prince Abdulaziz led the presentation as he welcomed delegates from across Asia and highlighted the full readiness of the Kingdom to host the AFC Asian Cup with distinction. The presentation also featured Ibrahim Alkassim, General Secretary of SAFF, and former Saudi national team player Mohammed Abduljawad. They both delivered a clear vision of the legacy that the tournament would provide in contributing to the growth and progress of football in Asia.
