In a prominent sporting event reflecting the growing stature of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the international sports scene, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, inaugurated the AFC U-23 Championship 2026 this evening. The official opening ceremony took place at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, in the presence of His Highness Prince Saud bin Jalawi, Governor of Jeddah, and Yasser Al-Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, along with a host of Asian sports figures and representatives of continental federations.
The Kingdom's hosting of this seventh edition of the continental championship, taking place from January 6 to 24, comes as part of a comprehensive national strategy aimed at strengthening sports infrastructure and developing national talent, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which gives unprecedented attention to the sports sector. This championship is of particular importance as it represents a true rehearsal and practical test of the readiness of Saudi stadiums and facilities in preparation for the larger event of hosting the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals, thus confirming the Kingdom's commitment to providing the highest standards of organization and quality.
In a statement on this occasion, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal emphasized that the Kingdom's hosting of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup is a result of the generous and unlimited support provided by the wise leadership – may God protect them – to the sports sector. His Highness pointed out that this hosting is not merely a football competition, but a testament to the Kingdom's exceptional ability to organize major sporting events. He added that the tournament is a pivotal step in the comprehensive preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, ensuring an exceptional experience for fans and participating teams.
Technically and organizationally, the tournament features 16 of Asia's elite national teams competing in Jeddah and Riyadh. The organizing committee has developed a meticulous operational plan to ensure the smooth running of the matches, with Jeddah hosting the lion's share at 20 matches. Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium will host 10 matches, including the opening match and the highly anticipated final, while the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium will host another 10 matches, including crucial semi-final clashes and the third-place match.
Meanwhile, in the capital city of Riyadh, the competition is underway with 12 group stage matches, evenly split between Al-Shabab Club Stadium (six matches) and Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium (six matches). This geographical distribution of matches reflects the Kingdom's commitment to broadening fan participation and allowing the largest possible number of supporters to attend the matches and cheer on their national teams, thus enhancing the tournament's media and public appeal.
