Saudi Arabia to host Asian Cup

Asia’s most prestigious football tournament is set to be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time.

The Gulf country will host the 2027 edition of the Asian Cup.

The selection was ratified by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after India, Iran, Qatar and Uzbekistan had earlier withdrawn from the bidding process.

Meanwhile, Bahrain's Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa officially retained his role as the AFC's president for a final four-year term.

His new four-year term will be his last due to limits imposed under the governing body's statutes and the 57-year-old will have been in charge of Asian football for 14 years by the time his stint ends in 2027.

"I'd like to thank you all for placing your faith in me for another four-year term," Sheikh Salman told delegates. "It really humbles me, gives me such honour to have all the trust of the Asian confederation."

Saudi Arabia's Yasser Al Misehal was elected to the FIFA Council alongside Japan's Kohzo Tashima, Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Al Thani from Qatar, Mariano Araneta of the Philippines and Malaysia's Haji Hamidin bin Haji Mohd Amin.

Laos' Kanya Keomany was elected to take the FIFA Council seat reserved for female representation.

✨𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 ✨

Six AFC representatives at FIFA Council including one female member confirmed at the #AFCCongress2023! pic.twitter.com/n8dw4oc26F

— AFC (@theafcdotcom) February 1, 2023

✨𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 ✨

The AFC Executive Committee Members for the term 2023 - 2027 confirmed at the #AFCCongress2023 pic.twitter.com/PB02nbxC2A

— AFC (@theafcdotcom) February 1, 2023