Saudi Arabia has become the only candidate to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, after the Confederation announced, on Monday, the withdrawal of its only competitor, India, from the candidacy race.
“The AFC has been officially notified by the Indian Federation of the decision to withdraw its candidacy to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup,” the AFC said in a statement. “It will be the only Saudi file submitted to the 33rd Congress of the AFC.”
It will be the first hosting of Saudi Arabia in the finals, which began in 1956.
The federations of India, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan had expressed interest in hosting the 2027 Asian Cup, before they all withdrew.
For the first time, 24 teams participated in the last edition hosted by the UAE early last year, and the Qatari team won the title for the first time in its history at the expense of Japan in the final match (3-1).
And Saudi Arabia has held the continental title 3 previous times, the last of which was in 1996 in the version hosted by the UAE.
Qatar will host the next edition of the Asian Cup in 2024, after China apologized for organizing the tournament, which takes place every 4 years.
On October 17, the AFC Executive Committee selected a short list of those wishing to host the continental event, which included Saudi Arabia and India, provided that the final decision in this regard will be issued at the next General Assembly in Manama, February 2023.
And Saudi Arabia continues to seek to host sporting events, as it submitted a request to host the 2026 Asian Cup for Women a few days ago, in addition to major sporting events such as golf tournaments, Formula One races, and European football matches.
Last October, it was chosen to host the 2029 Asian Winter Games in the giant futuristic city of Neom, and the Olympic Council of Asia also chose it to host the 2034 Asian Games.
Since Prince Mohammed bin Salman assumed the position of Crown Prince in 2017, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a social openness after decades of closure and severe restrictions imposed, especially on women.
Investing in sports is part of the “Vision 2030” strategy approved in 2016 to diversify the oil-dependent economy in this Gulf state.