AFC President Shaikh Khalifa: Asian countries will be excellent hosts

Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa

The Asian Football Confederation president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has expressed confidence that AFC Member Associations will prove to be magnificent hosts of the FIFA age-group competitions and FIFA Congress.

The FIFA Executive Committee awarded the hosting rights of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup 2016 to Jordan, 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup to India, 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup to South Korea and the 2017 FIFA Congress to Malaysia.

Thanking the FIFA Executive Committee for its decision, the AFC President said that the Asian football family has achieved a number of forward-looking milestones which represent promising signs of continuing growth and development. He said he was convinced that FIFA – together with the AFC Member Associations – will host successful competitions and events.

The age-group tournaments form an important and integral development milestone not only for football but also for their hosting nations. It is very important that a long-lasting legacy can be left in Jordan, India and South Korea, he said.

He added that AFC will have the great privilege to host the international football family for its annual congress on its home turf is not only an outstanding honour but also an opportunity to showcase to the world what Asia has achieved and will accomplish in the years to follow.

He assured that the AFC leadership and its administration will continue to fully support the Member Associations by providing the adequate instruments to ensure path of growth and development – both on and off the field of play.