AFC Asian Cup 2027: India, Saudi Arabia to compete for hosting rights
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Alaina
- . October 17, 2022
- . Update: November 11, 2022 12:58 am
The AFC confirmed on Monday that Saudi Arabia and India will fight for the right to host the 2027 Asian Cup after three other interested countries withdrew their applications.
If India is chosen to host the competition, it will be the first time the nation has done so. Saudi Arabia has three continental championship victories but has never hosted the event. A few days ago, Iran withdrew their proposal, while Uzbekistan withdrew in December 2020.
The third interested country, Qatar, abandoned its application for the 2027 tournament after learning that they will be hosting the AFC Asian Cup in 2019.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) were chosen as the final two bidders by the AFC Executive Committee after consideration of the bid proposals for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. The AFC Congress will decide who would be the following host at its meeting in February.
India initially entered the competition for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup but withdrew early in October 2018. India is currently holding the U-17 women’s World Cup after successfully hosting the U-17 men’s World Cup in 2017.
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The decision, according to the relevant bidding laws, “brings to an end the bid proposal of the QFA who were judged to have withdrawn from the 2027 contest following their successful 2023 offer,” the statement continued.
“Once more, we would want to express our gratitude to our three Member Associations, the All India Football Federation, the Qatar Football Association, and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, for their competitive bids to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said, “We have two exceptional bids in the All India Football Federation and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, and I am convinced that the Qatar Football Association will improve the foundations for the ultimate hosts to grow upon.
