Saudi Arabia's preparations for the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship: Stadiums and details
With just 10 days to go until kickoff, preparations in Saudi Arabia are entering their final, crucial stages for hosting the seventh edition of the AFC U-23 Championship 2026. All eyes of Asian football fans are on Riyadh and Jeddah, which are preparing to welcome 16 of the continent's elite teams from January 6th to 24th, in a football event promising plenty of excitement and fierce competition.
Maximum readiness in Riyadh and Jeddah
The local organizing committee is working tirelessly to finalize all logistical and organizational details to ensure an exceptional tournament befitting the Kingdom's sporting stature. A comprehensive operational plan has been developed in the capital, Riyadh, encompassing luxurious reception facilities, team accommodations, meticulous training schedules, and seamless transportation arrangements. Riyadh is set to host 12 group stage matches, split equally between the historic Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium and the modern Al Shabab Club Stadium.
In Jeddah, the Bride of the Red Sea, work continues at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, which will host 10 important matches, most notably the opening match and the highly anticipated final. Meanwhile, the reserve stadium at King Abdullah Sports City (The Shining Jewel) is preparing to host 10 crucial matches, including the two semi-finals and the third-place match, ensuring a balanced geographical distribution for the tournament.
The importance of the tournament and the future of Asian football
The AFC U-23 Asian Cup holds immense strategic importance, serving as a veritable goldmine for emerging talents who will form the backbone of senior national teams in the near future. This seventh edition continues a rich history of competition, with the Saudi Arabian national team having previously won the title in 2022. This places significant pressure on the Olympic Green Falcons to compete strongly on home soil and in front of their fans. These tournaments also provide an opportunity for scouts and international clubs to observe the rising stars of Asian football.
A real rehearsal for the 2027 Asian Cup
The importance of hosting this tournament extends beyond the sporting competition itself; it is a pivotal and crucial step in the Kingdom's preparations to host the larger event, the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The sporting community views the U-23 tournament as a practical test of the readiness of the infrastructure, stadiums, organizational personnel, and the ability to manage crowds and continental events according to the highest international standards.
This tireless sporting activity reflects the Kingdom's commitment to Vision 2030, which positions sport as a cornerstone of quality of life and enhances Saudi Arabia's status as a global destination for major events. It is worth noting that the organizing committee has made tickets for the tournament available to the public through the official website of the Asian Football Confederation, inviting fans to participate in making the event a success.
