Saudi Arabia confirmed as host of 2027 AFC Asian Cup

The announcement was made at the 33rd AFC Congress in Manama.
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Updated 01 February 2023
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Saudi Arabia confirmed as host of 2027 AFC Asian Cup

  • The announcement was made at the 33rd AFC Congress in Manama

Saudi Arabia has been confirmed as the host of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup at the 33rd Asian Football Federation Congress in Manama on Wednesday afternoon.

It will be the first time that the tournament will be held in the Kingdom, with the Green Falcons having won the competitions three times previously (1984, 1988, 1996).

Four other nations had initially bid to host the tournament, including Iran, Uzbekistan, China and Qatar.  

Iran and Uzbekistan were the first to withdraw, with Qatar following as it filled in the vacancy left by China for the 2023 edition.

When India withdrew in December, Saudi Arabia were left unopposed to win the vote.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hailed the result announcing the Kingdom's hosting of the tournament in 2027. "We commend the results of the bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the Kingdom and the Asian Federation in terms of efforts to achieve the aspirations of our young men and women."

Meanwhile, the Saudi minister of sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal received the certificate approving the Kingdom to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

"Saudi Arabia is ready to host the competition, we have the passion, support and facilities to drive football forward for Asia," he said.

He added: "The Asian cup we deliver will take the tournament to the next level. This will be the most profitable in the history of our confederation for both AFC and its members."


Silva scores late equalizer as Dortmund grab 2-2 draw at Leipzig

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Silva scores late equalizer as Dortmund grab 2-2 draw at Leipzig

  • Silva then seized ⁠his moment with a left footed shot five minutes into extra time
  • Dortmund remained unbeaten in their last eight away games

LEIPZIG, Germany: Fabio Silva grabbed a stoppage time equalizer as Borussia Dortmund drew 2-2 at RB Leipzig to trim Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga lead to eight points on Saturday.
Second placed Dortmund had been heading for defeat after Christoph Baumgartner scored twice from close range in the first half.
The visitors came back after the break and their hopes were revived by a Romulo own goal five minutes into the half but they were still staring at defeat as the clock ticked into an added seven ⁠minutes.
Silva then seized ⁠his moment with a left footed shot five minutes into extra time.
Dortmund remained unbeaten in their last eight away games but their six match winning run came to an end at the Red Bull Arena.
Max Beir had looked like putting them ahead ⁠when he broke clear and went one-on-one on goal for Dortmund after eight minutes, but his shot was straight at goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt, and then Leipzig took control.
Baumgartner made the breakthrough in the 20th minute when Yan Diomande, in sparkling form, sent a low cross into the box for him to glance in right-footed with his back to the net.
The goal was given after an offside check.
Baumgartner took his ⁠10th goal ⁠of the season and doubled his tally in the 39th with a perfectly timed run to tap in a cross from David Raum as the hosts ripped Dortmund apart down the left.
Leipzig, with just one win from their last six outings, stayed fifth in the standings, one point behind VfB Stuttgart who have a game in hand.
Harry Kane struck his eighth brace of the season as Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 in an earlier kickoff. Dortmund host Bayern next week.