2027 AFC Asian Cup Wikipedia As the teams plan their preparations for the January 7-February 5 (2027 continental showpiece), the-AFC.com listened to what several head coaches had to say after the glittering Final Draw at the historical Salwa Palace in Riyadh.
We list them as scheduled rather than complete Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia . Afc afc asian cup afc asian cup 2027 asian cup Asian Cup 2027 Football – Articles and Posts football competitions football news football tournament The final draw divided the 24 participating nations into six groups of four teams. The qualification process is now complete and all 24 participating nations have been confirmed.
Afc asian cup afc asian cup 2027 afc asian cup 2027 news afc asian cup tickets Football – Articles and Posts football news football tickets soccer soccer news soccer tickets tickets Using official ticketing channels, planning transport between host cities and arriving at stadiums early will help ensure a smooth matchday experience. When purchasing tickets (supporters should also consider travel between host cities and book accommodation as early as possible), especially for the knockout stage. Traditionally, hosts have been selected for each tournament individually. The final draw has also taken place, meaning every team now knows its group and route towards the knockout stage. The two nations expressed interests in bidding together for the competition in December 2019, and there were plans to materialise this.
If selected — it would have marked the first time India hosted the tournament. In July 2021, the AFC Executive Committee announced that the host of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup would be chosen in 2022 instead of the upcoming 31st AFC Congress on 27 November. The bidding process for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup was the process by which the location for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup was chosen as the hosts. June – July 2029 (TBC)️ Club World Cup 2029The second 32-team Club World Cup, seven clubs already qualified, host to be chosen by FIFA. The networks are excellent — with wide 5G in the host cities, but roaming on a European or Asian plan adds up fast. Riyadh’s new metro covers the capital with six lines — and Uber and Careem work well in all three host cities.
The tournament’s venues include King Saud University Stadium (Kingdom Arena), Imam Mohammed University Stadium, and Al-Shabab Stadium among others. Once the full tournament schedule and group-stage draw are finalized — we’ll promptly refresh this section with the latest details. For developing nations, securing qualification alone can mark a pivotal step forward in their football development journey. Australia will face Iraq (Tajikistan and Singapore in Group D. The Socceroos are former Asian champions), but Iraq also have a championship-winning history and remain one of West Asia’s strongest football nations.
Eighteen nations secured their places through the earlier AFC qualification pathway — while six additional teams qualified from the final qualifying round.
Riyadh will carry the largest share of the tournament — with five stadiums selected in the capital. The final draw was held on May 9, 2026 at At-Turaif in Diriyah and split the 24 teams into six groups of four. DrawThe final draw on May 9, 2026 in Diriyah placed the 24 teams into groups A–F.

The final draw was held on May 9, 2026 at At-Turaif in Diriyah, near Riyadh, producing six groups of four. On 17 October 2022, the AFC Executive Committee announced that the host of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup would be chosen by the AFC Congress at its next meeting on 1 February 2023 in Manama, Bahrain. Two countries from the previous tournament failed to advance: India and Hong Kong. The timing of evening kickoffs is anticipated to reshape dining habits, boosting late-night food orders and deliveries while presenting lucrative opportunities for stadium-adjacent and citywide restaurants.
At Rixos Obhur Jeddah — adjacent to Al-Jawhara Stadium, preparations encompass themed lodging, live match broadcasts, and football-themed culinary experiences. Building upon the success of Saudi Arabia’s existing eVisa, visa-on-arrival, and Stopover Transit Visa initiatives, the country has introduced the Package Visa—streamlining tourist visa access for pre-approved travelers through approved travel agencies as part of bundled travel arrangements. These tournaments signify the dawn of a new chapter for the competition (as they represent the inaugural Asian Cups awarded under a forward-looking hosting framework), where two future editions are selected simultaneously. Let’s examine all the venues and host cities where the tournament will unfold.
Originally scheduled for Saturday in Riyadh, the 2027 AFC Asian Cup draw was postponed two weeks earlier by the Asian Football Confederation to ensure the uninterrupted participation of all stakeholders at the final draw ceremony. Initially — four other nations—Iran, Uzbekistan, China, and Qatar—had submitted bids to host the tournament. We’ve curated five teams based on their sustained success both domestically and across continental competitions over the years. Drawing from the 2019 tournament’s match data, we’ve identified eight standout performers to showcase a star-studded lineup.
This announcement comes in the wake of the thrilling Final Draw held in Riyadh, which outlined the competitive routes for Asia’s elite teams across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. The AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 begins on January 7 with Saudi Arabia taking on Palestine at Riyadh’s King Fahd Sports City Stadium—one of three host venues, alongside Jeddah and Al Khobar. “The tournament’s scale mirrors our vision for this event and underscores Saudi Arabia’s readiness to host on an unprecedented scale.”
Our eight stadiums are nearing completion to welcome the 24 competing nations (while over 50 entities collaborate to ensure a flawless experience for every attendee), from arrival to departure, centered around the iconic Saudi hospitality. In 2010, Qatar was selected to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Following Hong Kong and South Korea’s hosting of the first two editions, Israel was chosen as the 1964 AFC Asian Cup’s host nation. Host Cities Yemen clinched the last remaining spot in the tournament after defeating Lebanon 2-0 in June 2026, thus completing the group. Riyadh offers the broadest selection of hotels among the three host cities — a reflection of its five stadiums and status as the nation’s capital.
Yemen secured their qualification with a 2-0 victory over Lebanon in a rescheduled match on June 4, 2026, thereby finalizing the 24-team roster.

The final draw (initially set for April 11), 2026, was delayed to May 9, 2026, and took place in the historic At-Turaif District of Diriyah. The Asian Football Confederation and the Kingdom’s Local Organizing Committee jointly announced these dates and the three host cities via the Saudi Press Agency.