India will host AFC Women’s Asian Cup football in 2022


India will host AFC Women’s Asian Cup football in 2022

India will host the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup as the sport’s continental body on Tuesday awarded the showpiece to the country with an aim to maximize the promotion of the game. As part of the AFC’s commitment to grow the women’s game, India were awarded the tournament by the Asian Football Confederation’s Women’s Committee

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It was felt that India, who will also have the experience of hosting the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup later this year, was best placed among the three bidders – Chinese Taipei and Uzbekistan were the other competing candidates – to maximize the promotion of the women’s game.

AFC Women’s Committee chairperson Mahfuza Akhter Kiron said: “India offers the best opportunities to build the event commercially as well as increasing the value and India is also committed to developing the women’s game and while all three were strong bids, India stands out.”

“This is the most important competition in women’s football in Asia. The last edition was a major step forward. Jordan, the first time a West Asian nation had hosted the event. Now we are looking to build on that legacy,” Akhter added.

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The stadiums proposed by India – D Y Patil Stadium and Trans Stadia Arena – are also being used in the FIFA tournament. India already hosts big events like AFC Under-16 Championships in 2016 edition and the FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2017 edition and the Committee agreed the country could continue raising the standards of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

This time AFC Women’s Asian Cup football event will featuring 12 teams and will be played in three groups . Interesting fact, This event will serve as the final stage of Asian qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup football. This would be india’s 9th appearancesin this prestigious event.

The committee agreed that the minimum length of the competition would be 17 days and that the administration would be mandated to organise the relevant play-off matches depending on the AFC slots at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The possible dates of the tournament are likely to be in late October and early November 2022 and the match schedule will be worked out keeping in mind the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

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The committee also discussed about the phased introduction of the AFC Women’s Champions League, following the successful AFC/FIFA pilot championship in Korea Republic in November 2019. The pilot programme will continue in 2020 with a maximum of six invited clubs.

More fact to remember, there will be eight invited clubs In 2021 and 2022 edition and by 2023 and 2024 edition , it will increase minimum 12 clubs, which will be open to all member associations and in 2025 edition , it will be increased more and consolidated to 16 teams and by then an AFC women’s club competition ranking will have been devised.