Saudi 2027 announces partnership with SAUDIA to support AFC Asian Cup bid efforts

The partnership with SAUDIA, signifies the overwhelming domestic support for Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the AFC Asian Cup for the first time ever; support which has been seen from all aspects of society, including government leaders, commercial enterprises and the population as a whole.

Having won the AFC Asian Cup three times in 1984, 1988 and 1996, Saudi Arabia has until now never hosted the competition, offering a unique opportunity for Asian football to reach new boundaries. The bid’s slogan, ‘Forward for Asia’, reflects the desire to use the tournament to provide new benefits for all the AFC’s 47 Member Associations.

Upon the announcement, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Yasser Almisehal said, “It is a tremendous honour and pleasure to announce SAUDIA as an official sponsor of our bid to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. From our initial decision to bid for the tournament, the support we have received from our prosperous commercial sector has been extraordinary. Our partnership with SAUDIA, one of the Kingdom’s leading companies, is a big boost to our efforts and symbolises our desire to combine our domestic passion for football with a truly international impact.”

Chief Executive Officer of SAUDIA, Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy added, “It is a great privilege for SAUDIA to be involved in the bid of Saudi Arabia to host the AFC Asian Cup in 2027. Football is part of our culture in Saudi Arabia, playing a crucial role in uniting and inspiring our population. The opportunity of hosting the Asian Cup for the first time in the Kingdom’s history would be a true game changer in the history of our nation, and our ongoing interconnectivity with countries across Asia. We are excited about playing our role in supporting this universal dream become reality.”