Saudi Arabia has been officially recommended as the host nation for the next three editions of the AFC U17 Asian Cup, following a decisive ruling by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competitions Committee during its fourth meeting in Jeddah today.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) emerged as the preferred host after a rigorous Bid Evaluation and Risk Assessment Process, surpassing strong proposals from both the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the Iraqi Football Association (IFA).
This monumental decision, pending final ratification by the AFC Executive Committee, will see Saudi Arabia host the 2026, 2027, and 2028 editions of Asia’s premier youth football competition—solidifying its growing stature as a regional and global football hub.
While both SAFF and CFA were deemed to have met all hosting criteria, the Committee noted the strategic importance of equitable distribution across gender and geography. With the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup™ 2026–2028 already awarded to China, the decision to entrust SAFF with the men’s equivalent was seen as a deliberate move toward diversity and balanced football development across the continent.
The announcement was made just hours before the highly anticipated AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Final between Al Ahli Saudi and Kawasaki Frontale, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in Asian football. Chairperson Dr Tran Quoc Tuan extended his congratulations to SAFF and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for their “exceptional execution” of the tournament in Jeddah and expressed confidence in their ability to elevate the U17 tournament in the coming years.
Credit Photo : AFC
