The Asian Football Confederation’s 33rd congress in Bahrain on Wednesday (February 1) awarded the 2027 Asia Cup to Saudi Arabia.
It is the first time the Gulf country has hosted Asian soccer’s biggest regional tournament, which is held every four years.
In the last five years Saudi Arabia’s rulers have invested heavily in sports, bringing a number of high-profile events to the country including Formula 1 races and heavyweight boxing title fights.
With neighbors Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup and the UAE also playing host to numerous competitions and tournaments, the Gulf region is now a major player in global sport.
