For the first time, Saudi Arabia has been granted the right to host the Asian Cup in 2027. 43 nations voted in favour of the country’s bid at the 33rd Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Congress. Turkmenistan and Palestine abstained from voting. Saudi Arabia had yet to host the Asian Cup, even being one of the most successful teams in Asia, having won Asian Cup three times and represented Asia in the World Cup six times, which was founded in 1956.
Prince Abdulaziz Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, President of the Saudi Olympics and Paralympics Committee, expressed his excitement and pride in being chosen as host for the Asian Cup and thanked the AFC and all the member associations that were involved in the process. It will be one of the many major sporting and entertainment events that Saudi Arabia has won bids to host soon, including the 2034 Asian Games in Riyadh and the 2029 Asian Winter Games at a planned mountain resort.
The country was the sole remaining bidder for the 2027 edition after Uzbekistan, Iran, and India withdrew their bids, defending champions Qatar withdrew after winning the 2023 bid, and China cancelled their plan due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
