India show interest to host 2027 Asian Cup

India are one of the five nations who have submitted expressions of interest to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to host the 2027 Asian Cup, the football body announced in a statement on Wednesday. The decision on awarding hosting rights will be taken in 2021.

Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan are the other nations who have submitted their interest in hosting the quadrennial event.

“The AFC will now work with each Bidding Member Association on the delivery of the necessary bidding documentation in accordance with the bidding process and will announce the host for the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 2021,” said the AFC statement.

“On behalf



of the Asian football family, I would like to thank all our Member Associations for stepping forward to express their desire and for sharing our ambitions to host a world-class stage for our players, teams, officials and fans and I wish all of them the very best in the bidding process.” AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa was quoted in the statement.

India have never hosted the Asian Cup. They have qualified for four editions of Asia’s premier international competition, not progressing further than the group stages since 1964.

Reigning champions Qatar and Iran have hosted the Asian Cup before, while Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, like India, have never hosted the tournament.