Saudi Arabia make a pitch for AFC Asian Cup

Article posted by Coliseum, January 4^th, 2021

Image: SPA

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman recently invited the Asian Football Cup (AFC) working team to discuss Saudi Arabia’s bid to play host to the AFC Asian Cup 2027.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Servant of the Two Noble Sanctuaries or Protector of the Two Holy Cities, is a royal style that has been used by many Muslim rulers, including the Ayyubids, the Mamluk Sultans of Egypt, the Ottoman Sultans, Kings of Hejaz and in the modern age, Saudi Arabian kings.

The 2027 AFC Asian Cup will be the 19^th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the quadrennial international men’s football championship of Asia organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament will involve 24 national teams, including that of the host nation, assuming the current format of the finals is maintained.

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The King emphasized that the Kingdom intends, if given the opportunity to stage the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, to provide an unprecedented football experience to millions of fans of this game in Asia.

Observed King Salman, “Football has been gaining momentum in our Kingdom with its massive popular appeal. Our vision is based on our great passion for football, which is embodied in our young men and women.”

Added King Salman, “The historical ties between the Kingdom and football date back beyond decades, represented by a history full of successes and championships at the continental level.”

For his part, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman supported the Kingdom’s bid to host the 2027 Asian Cup, stressing constant keenness to move forward to achieve the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Saudi Vision 2030 is a strategic framework to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism.

He pointed out that the Kingdom is on its way to score more achievements through the vision that include promoting the development of Asian football in all fields.

“Our vision to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup is to present more than just a championship, as the Kingdom intends to make great progress for the future of Asia and make a qualitative leap that enhances the position of Asian football,” the Crown Prince informed.

The Crown Prince emphasized that the 2027 AFC Asian Cup is a step towards creating a new experience, new exchange and new expansion, through which we look forward to sharing our goals and ambitions with the Asian football family.

“The organization of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in the Kingdom for the first time ever would be an opportunity to create the future of football in the Kingdom and the Asian continent, as we look forward with determination to open new horizons for Asian football,” Muhammad Bin Salman added.

Saudi Arabia is making a strong pitch to stage the Asian Cup in 2027 with promise to boost the Kingdom’s most popular sport. Under the slogan ‘Forward for Asia’, the Saudi 2027 bid seeks to use the Asian Cup in 2027 as a platform to provide new and unique opportunities for the AFC’s 47-member associations to build the profile of football in their countries.

Saudi 2027 recently launched the Saudi United initiative, which aims to unite people in Saudi Arabia through football as the three-time winners of the competition aim to host the fixture for the first time in its history.

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