India on Monday withdrew its bid to stage the 2027 AFC Asian Cup with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) declaring that internet hosting big-ticket occasions isn’t amongst its “strategic priorities” at this juncture. India and Saudi Arabia had been the one two international locations left as bidders to host the 2027 continental showpiece after nations reminiscent of Iran and Uzbekistan pulled out of the race in October. India’s bid was launched amid a lot fanfare in 2020 when Praful Patel was the AIFF president however the present dispensation beneath Kalyan Chaubey feels “building the foundations of football structure” by means of grassroots and youth growth was extra vital than internet hosting massive occasions.

“As per the strategic roadmap of the federation, which will be announced later this month, the AIFF management thinks hosting of big events doesn’t fit into the federation’s strategic priorities,” the AIFF stated in a launch, quoting its government committee.

“Our current focus is building the foundations of proper footballing structure before thinking of hosting bigger events like the AFC Asian Cup.” Chaubey stated India has all the time been “a wonderful and efficient host” to massive tournaments, just like the recently-concluded FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, however the focus will now shift to strengthening the nation’s soccer at each degree, from grassroots to youth growth.

“The EC has decided that the overall strategy of the federation currently remains on focusing on the fundamental goals to strengthen our football at every level from grassroots to youth development,” he stated.

“At the same time, we must also strengthen our stakeholders, especially the State Associations and work closely with the clubs to bring about a change in every aspect of football at the domestic level. All such aspects will truly be implemented when the roadmap is announced later this month.” AIFF secretary basic Shaji Prabhakaran stated, “Our strategy is very simple. We must focus on developing the game on a priority basis, before planning to host major international competitions.

“Hosting competitions requires massive assets and typically encourages the tendency to take the main points away from our focus. Right now, our focus needs to be to take Indian Football ahead collectively.” The AFC said it will now present Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2027 tournament to its Congress, to be held in February in Manama.

“The AFC has been formally notified by the AIFF of their choice to withdraw their bid from the AFC Asian Cup 2027 host choice course of.

“The AFC Congress is to decide the final host in Manama, Bahrain, in February 2023. Following the withdrawal of the AIFF bid, SAFF’s bid to host the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 2027 will now be the only one presented to the 33rd AFC Congress for consideration.” The 2023 version of the AFC Asian Cup shall be held in Qatar after unique host China expressed its incapacity to stage the event resulting from COVID-19 state of affairs in that nation.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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