Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and First Vice President of FIFA, reaffirmed his confidence in Saudi Arabia’s ability to host an exceptional edition of the AFC Asian Cup. This came during his attendance at the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Local Organizing Committee for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Yasser bin Hassan Al-Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Kingdom’s hosting of the final stages of the AFC Champions League Elite 2025 in Jeddah.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim stated: “We are confident in the Kingdom’s ability to host the best edition in the history of the AFC Asian Cup. At the AFC, we are working closely with the Local Organizing Committee to create ideal conditions for delivering a البطولة that brings pride to the Asian football family and offers fans an exceptional experience at the continent’s premier tournament.”
For his part, Yasser Al-Misehal, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, emphasized that the first meeting was positive and effective, contributing to enhanced coordination among various working teams. He added: “I thank Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa for attending the first Board meeting. During the meeting, we reviewed the key achievements accomplished by the Local Organizing Committee over the past period. We are moving forward to ensure the delivery of a fully integrated tournament, supported by our wise leadership and under the supervision of the Minister of Sport, whose backing has significantly strengthened the Kingdom’s position as a global destination for major sporting events.”
The meeting also reviewed the latest updates related to hosting the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in the Kingdom’s history, including ongoing development works on stadiums and sports facilities, as well as direct coordination with the AFC organizing committee to ensure all preparation phases are implemented according to the highest approved standards.
The Board reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to delivering an exceptional edition of the continent’s premier tournament, meeting the expectations of Asian football fans and reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing status in hosting major international sporting events.
The tournament is scheduled to be held across three main cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar, utilizing eight stadiums. These include King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, currently undergoing comprehensive renovation; King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah; and a new stadium in Al Khobar.
The list of venues also includes King Saud University Stadium, Al-Shabab Club Stadium, Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University Stadium—currently being expanded and upgraded to meet AFC requirements—and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.
