Saudi Arabia elevated its affect in world soccer on Wednesday, profitable a seat on the FIFA Council after which being confirmed as host of the 2027 Asian Cup.
The election victory on the Asian Football Confederation’s annual assembly comes after lengthy hypothesis about Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival final month to play within the Saudi league and a doable bid to host the World Cup in 2030 or 2034.
Saudi Football Federation President Yasir Almisehel was amongst six Asian soccer officers elected by AFC members to signify them on FIFA’s decision-making committee till 2027. Saudi Arabia was the one candidate to host the Asian Championships.
Sheikh Hamad Al Thani, president of the Qatari Football Federation, whose nation hosts the following Asian Cup in January 2024, was additionally elected to the FIFA Council. Sheikh Hamad obtained 40 votes from 45 federations, whereas Almisehl obtained 35 votes.
The 37-member FIFA Council is chaired by the governing physique’s president, Gianni Infantino, who attended the election assembly in Bahrain.
The election outcomes confirmed Saudi Arabia and Qatar on the heart of Asian soccer politics with the AFC presidency set to turn into vacant in 2027.
Bahrain’s AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa was on Wednesday re-elected by acclamation for a closing four-year time period in workplace since 2013. He is formally quantity 2 to Infantino as essentially the most senior of FIFA’s eight vice presidents.
FIFA council positions – which pay a $250,000 wage in Zurich – had been additionally gained by Kohzo Tashima of Japan and Mariano Araneta of the Philippines, who retained their seats, and Malaysian Football Federation chief Hamidin bin Mohd Amin.
Among the dropping candidates had been China’s Du Zhaokai and South Korea’s Chung Mong-gyu, who owns Hyundai and who misplaced his seat in 2019.
Kanya Keomani of Laos gained the FIFA Council seat reserved for ladies.
Later within the assembly, the Saudi bid to host the 2027 Asian Cup was confirmed unopposed. India withdrew its bid in December.
Presenting the bid on stage, Saudi Sports Minister Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal referred to as the 2027 match “a transformative moment in our collective football story”.
Saudi Arabia is the three-time champion of the Asian Cup in 1984, 1988 and 1996, however has by no means hosted the match.
When Ronaldo signed a 2 1/2-year take care of Al Nasr, the dominion raised its soccer profile, and three continents co-hosted the 2030 World Cup with Egypt from Africa and Greece from Europe. The betting was performed with the internet hosting bid.
It would solely be eight years since Qatar hosted the 2022 version, requiring the match to be moved again to Asia and the Arabian Gulf. The 2034 bid could also be extra lifelike.
FIFA is anticipated to let the greater than 200 member associations select to host 2030 subsequent yr.
Spain and Portugal, additionally presently with Ukraine, are planning a European bid for the 2030 World Cup, whereas a four-nation South American bid that brings collectively Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, 1930, 100 years in the past can be the inaugural host. anticipated.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
