2027 AFC Asian Cup

19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup

2027 AFC Asian CupAFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027
كأس آسيا 2027

Bid logo

Tournament details
Host country| Saudi Arabia
Dates| 7 January – 5 February
Teams| 24 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)| 8 (in 3 host cities)

← 2023

2031 →

International football competition

The 2027 AFC Asian Cup will be the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Asia organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament involves 24 national teams after the expansion in 2019. It will be held in Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February 2027.[1][2]

The tournament will return to its usual four-year cycle, after the 2023 edition was postponed to 2024 due to the removal of China as hosts and high summer temperatures in Qatar.

Qatar are the two-time defending champions.

## Host selection

[edit]

Main article: 2027 AFC Asian Cup bids

AFC confirmed the list of member associations expressed their interests to host 2027 Asian Cup before the 30 June 2020 deadline,[3] and they gave their necessary letters of undertaking in November.[4] 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.[5][6] However, India, one of the last two bidders, withdrew on 5 December[7] leaving Saudi Arabia as the only remaining bidder. On 1 February, the AFC confirmed that Saudi Arabia won the bid and will host the tournament for the first time.[1]

## Venues

[edit]

500km
311miles

Location of the host cities of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Riyadh

Jeddah

Khobar

Eight stadiums in three host cities will be used to play the tournament:[8]

City  | Stadium  | Capacity

|
|

Riyadh | King Fahd Sports City Stadium | 70,200
King Saud University Stadium | 25,000
Kingdom Arena | 27,000
Imam Mohammed University Stadium  | 21,000
Al-Shabab Stadium | 15,000
Jeddah | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium | 62,345
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium | 27,000
Khobar | Aramco Stadium (New)  | 46,096

## Teams

[edit]

Main article: 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Qualification status

Qualified for Asian Cup

Can qualify

Failed to qualify

Withdrew or excluded

Not an AFC member

The first two rounds of qualification will act as part of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Saudi Arabia, which received automatic qualification for the Asian Cup as host, is also participating in the qualifiers to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.[9]

The Northern Mariana Islands, whose football association became the 47th full AFC member during the confederation's 30th Congress on 9 December 2020,[10] was only eligible to enter the qualification tournament for the Asian Cup, but was ultimately excluded.[11]

### Qualified teams

[edit]

Team  | Method of
qualification  | Date of
qualification  | Finals
appearances  | First
appearance  | Last
appearance  | Previous best
performance

|
|
|
|
|
|

Saudi Arabia | Hosts | 1 February 2023 | 12th | 1984 | 2023 | Winners (1984, 1988, 1996)
Australia | Second round Group I winners | 26 March 2024 | 6th | 2007 | 2023 | Winners (2015)
Iraq | Second round Group F winners | 26 March 2024 | 11th | 1972 | 2023 | Winners (2007)
Iran | Second round Group E winners | 26 March 2024 | 16th | 1968 | 2023 | Winners (1968, 1972, 1976)
Uzbekistan | Second round Group E runners-up | 26 March 2024 | 9th | 1996 | 2023 | Fourth place (2011)
Qatar | Second round Group A winners | 26 March 2024 | 12th | 1980 | 2023 | Winners (2019, 2023)
United Arab Emirates | Second round Group H winners | 26 March 2024 | 12th | 1980 | 2023 | Runners-up (1996)
Japan | Second round Group B winners | 2 April 2024 | 11th | 1988 | 2023 | Winners (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011)
South Korea | Second round Group C winners | 6 June 2024 | 16th | 1956 | 2023 | Winners (1956, 1960)
Oman | Second round Group D winners | 6 June 2024 | 6th | 2004 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2019)
Palestine | Second round Group I runners-up | 6 June 2024 | 4th | 2015 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2023)
Bahrain | Second round Group H runners-up | 6 June 2024 | 8th | 1988 | 2023 | Fourth place (2004)
Jordan | Second round Group G winners | 6 June 2024 | 6th | 2004 | 2023 | Runners-up (2023)
China | Second round Group C runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 14th | 1976 | 2023 | Runners-up (1984, 2004)
Indonesia | Second round Group F runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 6th | 1996 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2023)
North Korea | Second round Group B runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 6th | 1980 | 2019 | Fourth place (1980)
Kuwait | Second round Group A runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 11th | 1972 | 2015 | Winners (1980)
Kyrgyzstan | Second round Group D runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 3rd | 2019 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2019)

## Group stage

[edit]

All times are local, AST (UTC+3).

### Group A

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Saudi Arabia (H) | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to knockout stage
2  | A2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
3  | A3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  | A4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |

First match(es) will be played: 7 January 2027. Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

7 January 2027 (2027-01-07)

Saudi Arabia | Match 1|

|
|

|  |

8 January 2027 (2027-01-08)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

12 January 2027 (2027-01-12)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

12 January 2027 (2027-01-12)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

17 January 2027 (2027-01-17)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

17 January 2027 (2027-01-17)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

### Group B

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | B1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to knockout stage
2  | B2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
3  | B3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  | B4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |

First match(es) will be played: January 2027. Source: AFC

8 January 2027 (2027-01-08)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

8 January 2027 (2027-01-08)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

13 January 2027 (2027-01-13)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

13 January 2027 (2027-01-13)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

18 January 2027 (2027-01-18)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

18 January 2027 (2027-01-18)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

### Group C

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | C1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to knockout stage
2  | C2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
3  | C3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  | C4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |

First match(es) will be played: January 2027. Source: AFC

9 January 2027 (2027-01-09)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

9 January 2027 (2027-01-09)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

13 January 2027 (2027-01-13)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

14 January 2027 (2027-01-14)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

18 January 2027 (2027-01-18)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

18 January 2027 (2027-01-18)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

### Group D

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | D1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to knockout stage
2  | D2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
3  | D3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  | D4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |

First match(es) will be played: January 2027. Source: AFC

9 January 2027 (2027-01-09)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

10 January 2027 (2027-01-10)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

14 January 2027 (2027-01-14)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

14 January 2027 (2027-01-14)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

19 January 2027 (2027-01-19)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

19 January 2027 (2027-01-19)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

### Group E

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | E1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to knockout stage
2  | E2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
3  | E3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  | E4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |

First match(es) will be played: January 2027. Source: AFC

10 January 2027 (2027-01-10)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

10 January 2027 (2027-01-10)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

15 January 2027 (2027-01-15)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

15 January 2027 (2027-01-15)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

20 January 2027 (2027-01-20)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

20 January 2027 (2027-01-20)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

### Group F

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | F1  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to knockout stage
2  | F2  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
3  | F3  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4  | F4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |

First match(es) will be played: January 2027. Source: AFC

11 January 2027 (2027-01-11)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

11 January 2027 (2027-01-11)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

16 January 2027 (2027-01-16)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

16 January 2027 (2027-01-16)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

* * *

20 January 2027 (2027-01-20)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

20 January 2027 (2027-01-20)

| Match|

|
|

|  |

### Ranking of third-placed teams

[edit]

The four best third-placed teams from the six groups advanced to the knockout stage along with the six group winners and six runners-up.

Pos | Grp | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | A | Third place Group A  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | Advance to knockout stage
2  | B | Third place Group B  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
3  | C | Third place Group C  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
4  | D | Third place Group D  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
5  | E | Third place Group E  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  |
6  | F | Third place Group F  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0

First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2027. Source: AFC

## Knockout stage

[edit]

In the knockout stage, extra time and a penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winner if necessary.

### Bracket

[edit]

| Round of 16| | Quarter-finals| | Semi-finals| | Final

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

|  January – | | | | | | | |

|  |

|  28 January –

|  | |

| Winner Match |

|  January –

| | Winner Match | |

|  |

| |  1 February –

|  | |

| Winner Match |

|  January –

| | Winner Match | |

|  |

|  28 January – |

|  | |

| Winner Match |

|  January –

| | Winner Match | |

|  |

| |  5 February –

|  | |

| Winner Match 49|

|  January –

| | Winner Match 50|

|  |

|  29 January – |

|  | |

| Winner Match |

|  January –

| | Winner Match | |

|  |

| |  2 February –

|  | |

| Winner Match |

|  January –

| | Winner Match | |

|  |

|  29 January – |

|  | |

| Winner Match |

|  January –

| | Winner Match | |

|  |

|  | |

All times are local, AST (UTC+3).

### Round of 16

[edit]

23 January 2027 (2027-01-23)

| Match 37|

|
|

|  |

* * *

23 January 2027 (2027-01-23)

| Match 38|

|
|

|  |

* * *

24 January 2027 (2027-01-24)

| Match 39|

|
|

|  |

* * *

24 January 2027 (2027-01-24)

| Match 40|

|
|

|  |

* * *

25 January 2027 (2027-01-25)

| Match 41|

|
|

|  |

* * *

25 January 2027 (2027-01-25)

| Match 42|

|
|

|  |

* * *

26 January 2027 (2027-01-26)

| Match 43|

|
|

|  |

* * *

26 January 2027 (2027-01-26)

| Match 44|

|
|

|  |

### Quarter-finals

[edit]

28 January 2027 (2027-01-28)

| Match 45|

|
|

|  |

* * *

28 January 2027 (2027-01-28)

| Match 46|

|
|

|  |

* * *

29 January 2027 (2027-01-29)

| Match 47|

|
|

|  |

* * *

29 January 2027 (2027-01-29)

| Match 48|

|
|

|  |

### Semi-finals

[edit]

1 February 2027 (2027-02-01)

| Match 49|

|
|

|  |

* * *

2 February 2027 (2027-02-02)

| Match 50|

|
|

|  |

### Final

[edit]

5 February 2027 (2027-02-05)

Winner Match 49| Match 51| Winner Match 50

|
|

|  |

## Marketing

[edit]

### Sponsorship

[edit]

Official Global Partners

* Credit Saison
* Neom[12]
* Qatar Airways[13]
* Visit Saudi

Official Global Supporters

* Kelme[14]
* Midea[15]

## Broadcasting rights

[edit]

The broadcasters around the world that acquired the rights to the tournament included:

Territory  | Broadcaster(s)  | Ref.

|
|

Australia  | Paramount+ and Network 10 | [16]
India  | Fancode | [17]
Saudi Arabia  | Shahid and SSC | [18][19]
South Korea  | Coupang | [20]
Vietnam  | K+  | [21][22]

## See also

[edit]

* Football in Saudi Arabia

## Notes

[edit]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Saudi Arabia confirmed as hosts of the AFC Asian Cup 2027". Asian Football Confederation. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
2. ^ "Men's International Match Calendar 2023-2030" (PDF). FIFA. April 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
3. ^ "Five Member Associations express interest to host 2027 AFC Asian Cup". aseanfootball.org. ASEAN Football Federation. 2 July 2020.
4. ^ "All five 2027 Asian Cup bidders meet latest deadline to submit documents". Inside the Games. Dunsar Media Company Limited. 13 November 2020.
5. ^ "Qatar to host AFC Asian Cup 2023; India and Saudi Arabia shortlisted for 2027 edition". Asian Football Confederation. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
6. ^ "AFC Executive Committee (term 2023-2027): Final list of candidates confirmed". AFC. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
7. ^ "AIFF Statement". All India Football Federation. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
8. ^ "Two-year countdown: Dates for AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ confirmed". The Asian Football Confederation. 7 January 2025. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
9. ^ "ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals". Asian Football Confederation. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015.
10. ^ "AFC Congress approves NMIFA's membership". AFC. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
11. ^ "Six teams to contest Qualifiers Playoff for Saudi Arabia 2027". AFC. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
12. ^ "AFC and NEOM announce global multi-year partnership extension". the-AFC. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
13. ^ "AFC and Qatar Airways announce global partnership". the-AFC. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
14. ^ "AFC and KELME extend multi-year partnership". the-AFC. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
15. ^ "Midea becomes Global Supporter of the AFC's National Team Competitions". the-AFC. Retrieved 5 June 2025.
16. ^ "Guide: AFC Competitions on 10 Play and Paramount+". 10play.com.au. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
17. ^ "AFC partners with Fancode to stream Asian football competitions in India". AFC. 11 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
18. ^ Nicholson, Paul (6 April 2021). "Saudi Sports Company wins AFC media rights in regional new deal". Inside World Football. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
19. ^ "AFC enters into landmark agreement with Saudi Sports Company".
20. ^ "AFC confirms media rights deal for the 2025-2028 cycle with Korea Republic's Coupang Play". the-AFC. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
21. ^ "K+ sở hữu bản quyền các giải bóng đá của AFC". vnExpress (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 13 January 2024.
22. ^ "AFC teams up with Canal+ Group in Vietnam for the 2025-2028 cycle". the-AFC. Retrieved 8 March 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* AFC Asian Cup, the-AFC.com

* v
* t
* e

AFC Asian Cup

Tournaments|

* Hong Kong 1956
* South Korea 1960
* Israel 1964
* Iran 1968
* Thailand 1972
* Iran 1976
* Kuwait 1980
* Singapore 1984
* Qatar 1988
* Japan 1992
* United Arab Emirates 1996
* Lebanon 2000
* China 2004
* Indonesia / Malaysia / Thailand / Vietnam 2007
* Qatar 2011
* Australia 2015
* United Arab Emirates 2019
* Qatar 2023
* Saudi Arabia 2027
* TBD 2031

Qualification|

* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023
* 2027

Finals|

* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Squads|

* 1956
* 1960
* 1964
* 1968
* 1972
* 1976
* 1980
* 1984
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

Bids|

* 2019
* 2023
* 2027

Records and lists|

* Awards
* Records and statistics
* Hat-tricks
* Qualification
* Finals

Miscellaneous|

* Music
* Mascots
* Match balls

*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[Grp]: Group