India's bid to host AFC Asian Cup 2027 submitted
India has submitted its bid documents for hosting the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, a top official of the national federation confirmed. If India wins the bid, it will be the first time the nation will host the continental showpiece event. All India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das confirmed the same. Here are further details.
"We have already submitted our expression of interest to the AFC (Asian Football Confederation). That is what's required as of now," Das told PTI. Recently, the AFC had extended the deadline to lodge expression of interest by three months from March 31 to June 30 in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The AFC is expected to name the host nation early next year.
The AFC said it wanted to announce the tournament hosts as soon as possible. "The AFC had hoped to announce the tournament hosts as soon as possible to give them more time to prepare for the quadrennial continental championship, which was expanded to 24 teams for the 2019 edition in the United Arab Emirates," the AFC said.
Besides India, three-time winners Saudi Arabia is only nation to have publicly announced its intention to launch a bid for 2027 Asian Cup. One expects to see South Korea join India in the bid for the men's 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Earlier, India joined the race for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, but pulled out. China was given the nod to host the tournament.
India had successfully hosted men's U-17 World Cup in 2017. Post that the nation was to host the U-17 Women's World Cup this November, however, the tournament has been postponed to a later date due to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic. India has also been awarded hosting rights for the 2022 Women's AFC Asian Cup in 2022.
