AFC Asian Cup 2027: dates, groups, format and host cities
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup will be played in Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February 2027, the first time the kingdom has hosted Asia’s senior men’s national-team championship. Twenty-four teams will play at eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar.
Groups (draw held 9 May 2026)
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Saudi Arabia (hosts), Kuwait, Oman, Palestine |
| Group B | Uzbekistan, Bahrain, North Korea, Jordan |
| Group C | Iran, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, China |
| Group D | Australia, Tajikistan, Iraq, Singapore |
| Group E | South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen |
| Group F | Japan, Qatar, Thailand, Indonesia |
Sources: 2027 AFC Asian Cup (Wikipedia); ESPN draw report.
Format
- 24 teams in six groups of four.
- The top two in each group and the four best third-placed teams reach the round of 16.
- Knockout matches level after 90 minutes go to extra time and, if needed, penalties.
Preparation status
In mid-October 2026 the Saudi local organising committee told the AFC that preparations were on schedule, while the confederation said it was monitoring the situation after security concerns in the region.
Sources: Inside World Football, 16 Oct 2026; The National.
The full match schedule, kick-off times and venues per fixture will be added once confirmed by the AFC. We will not publish unconfirmed fixtures.