Saudi Arabia and the future of Asia: Continental praise for hosting major tournaments
The Secretary General of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Datuk Sri Windsor John, affirmed that Saudi Arabia's hosting of the AFC U-23 Championship in 2026 is not merely a fleeting sporting event, but a genuine platform and promising launchpad for the future stars of the Asian continent. This statement reflects the great continental appreciation for the remarkable and unprecedented development the Kingdom has achieved in the sports sector, particularly in organizing and hosting Asian championships across all categories.
Strategic partnership and a rich history
In discussing the historical background of this sporting movement, this praise did not come out of thin air, but rather is the result of years of diligent work within the framework of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which has established sports as a cornerstone of quality of life and economic diversification. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has transformed into a global sports destination, hosting major events such as the FIFA Club World Cup and the Spanish and Italian Super Cups. This has provided Saudi personnel with invaluable experience in crowd management and the organization of large-scale events, as Datuk Seri John noted in his interview with the Saudi Press Agency.
Expected regional and international impact
The Secretary General noted that the Kingdom's organizational successes in youth tournaments, along with its hosting of advanced stages of the AFC Champions League, represent a continuation of its upward trajectory of excellence. This excellence reinforces the Kingdom's position as an influential strategic partner in the development of Asian football and decision-making within the Asian Football Confederation. These hosting events are expected to have a far-reaching positive impact, extending beyond technical aspects and player development to include boosting sports tourism in the region, attracting investment, and raising the standards of sports infrastructure in neighboring countries to emulate the Saudi model.
The road to the 2034 World Cup
Datuk Seri John emphasized that the generous support the sports sector receives from the Kingdom's wise leadership was a decisive factor in the strength of Saudi Arabia's bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. He explained that the current preparations reflect advanced readiness and ambition to organize an exceptional edition that will be the most prominent in the tournament's history. These successive steps, starting with the AFC U-23 Asian Cup and culminating in the larger continental championship in 2027, pave the way steadily and confidently towards the ultimate dream of hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup, given the growing international confidence in the Kingdom's organizational capabilities.
Datuk Seri John concluded his remarks by inviting football fans in Asia and the world to visit the Kingdom and follow the continent’s stars up close, and to enjoy a unique experience that combines exciting football competition with authentic Saudi hospitality, stressing that Saudi Arabia has become the beating heart of the future of football in Asia.
