KUALA LUMPUR: Five nations have expressed interest in hosting the 2027 Asian Cup, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said yesterday.
Three-time champions Saudi Arabia, India, Uzbekistan, reigning champions Qatar and Iran are the five countries interested in hosting the continental championship.
“The AFC will now work with each bidding member association on the delivery of the necessary bidding documentation ... and will announce the host for the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 2021,” AFC said in a statement.
AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa hailed the “biggest-ever edition” in the UAE last year and said he expected China to surpass all expectations in 2023.
“On behalf of the Asian football family, I would like to thank all our Member Associations for stepping forward to express their desire and for sharing our ambitions to host a world-class stage for our players, teams, officials and fans and I wish all of them the very best in the bidding process,” said Shaikh Salman.
Qatar staged the competition in 1988 and 2011, while Iran have hosted it in 1968 and 1976, winning the title on both occasions.
India bagged hosting rights for the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup last month.
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