Saudis bid to host AFC Women’s Cup in 2026
Desert kingdom is already in the running to stage the men’s tournament in 2027
Saudi Arabia is bidding to host the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.
The kingdom is already in the final running to hold the men’s tournament in 2027, with the decision now a straight choice between it and India.
Qatar was also bidding to host the 2027 tournament, but has been awarded next year’s, after China withdrew because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
A Saudi delegation, led by Dona Rajab, the first assistant coach of the women’s national team, presented the bid to the Asian Football Confederation on Friday in Kuala Lumpur.
“The future of women’s football in Saudi Arabia is bright and we are committed to growing the game here and throughout Asia,” Yasser Al Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, said. “More and more young girls are playing football in this country and we want to inspire them further. Hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 would be a great occasion for our players and would be made memorable by the passion of our fans.”
Also representing their country at the event were Raghad Helmi, of the Saudi Arabian national team and Al Shabab Club, and Marya Baghaffar, a 14-year-old youth player.
Women’s football has grown exponentially in the Gulf state over the past few years, and the national team played their first game on home soil in September, drawing against Bhutan.
Al Misehal’s appointment in 2019 coincided with the creation of a department dedicated to “giving every woman and every girl in our kingdom the opportunity to play, follow and attend football”.
Monika Staab, the manager of the Saudi Arabian women’s national team, said hosting the tournament was an opportunity “to inspire a generation, and turbocharge the continued growth of women’s football”.