Ahmedabad, India, has been recommended as the host city for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, edging out Abuja, Nigeria, in the race to stage the centenary edition of the event, Commonwealth Sport announced on Wednesday.

If ratified, it will mark the second time in 20 years that the Games will be held in the world’s most populous nation, following Delhi’s 2010 edition.

An evaluation commission from Commonwealth Sport selected Ahmedabad — located in western India — as the preferred host ahead of Abuja. The final decision is expected to be confirmed at the organisation’s General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.

Ahmedabad is home to the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest sports arena with a 132,000 capacity, which hosted the 2023 Cricket World Cup final. With a population of over five million, the city has also been mentioned as a potential future Olympic Games bidder.

“We see the 2030 Games as a powerful opportunity to inspire our youth, strengthen international partnerships, and contribute to a shared future across the Commonwealth,” said Dr. P. T. Usha, president of the Commonwealth Games Association of India.

The decision means Abuja has missed out on hosting the Games for a second time, after losing its bid for the 2014 edition to Glasgow.