Saudi Arabia among four countries looking to host 2026 women’s Asian Cup, Australia, Jordan, Uzbekistan also in mix
- Deadline for expressions of interest passed on Sunday, with final decision expected next year
- Saudi officials say ‘inspiring women’s football’ will be built into a Saudi-hosted tournament
Saudi Arabia are one of four countries to have expressed an interest in hosting the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, regional football bosses said on Monday.
The Asian Football Confederation said that Australia, Jordan and Uzbekistan had also met the deadline for being considered.
If selected, Saudi Arabia, whose women’s football team only played its first match in February this year in a tournament in the Maldives, will host its first official international women’s tournament.
Although recent reforms have given women in Saudi Arabia more freedoms, many of their rights remain restricted. Saudi women were banned from attending fixtures in stadiums until 2017.
The kingdom’s first women’s regional league was launched in November 2021, followed by a national championship in January this year, and according to Saudi officials, growing the grass roots of women’s football will be central to the bid.
“Inspiring women’s football across Asia will be built into a Saudi-hosted 2026 competition,” a spokesman said. “From players to coaches, from fans to officials, Saudi Arabia is committed to developing and growing women’s football to take the game to the next level.”
Monika Staab, the head coach of the Saudi Arabian women’s national team, said hosting the Asian Cup would be “an unprecedented opportunity to inspire a generation of girls to achieve their football dreams”.