In each four-team group, teams engage in three matches, with the top two and the four highest-placed thirds securing knockout round spots. The AFC granted Australia the right to organize the 2015 AFC Asian Cup after its triumphs at the 2011 edition. Four years later, Japan defended its Asian title, though their performance was weaker and the final against China was fiercely contested and politically charged.
Twenty-four national teams compete, split into six groups of four. Afc afc asian cup afc asian cup 2027 asian cup Asian Cup 2027 Football – Articles and Posts football competitions football news football tournament Saudi captain Salem Al-Dawsari remains one of the most recognisable names in Asian football, and Jordan’s Mousa Al-Taamari has already demonstrated his ability to influence major international matches. However — several established Asian stars could play major roles if selected and fit.
Teams from Pots 1 (2 and 3 were drawn directly to the second round), along with an allocated first-round tie winner. All teams from Pot 4 were drawn to the first round into two pots. Forty-six FIFA-affiliated nations are eligible to enter the joint qualification process for both the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup; Northern Mariana Islands, which is not a FIFA member, would have entered through the play-off round. Match dates and venues are confirmed — but individual kick-off times had not been published at the time of writing. Twenty-four national teams compete in six groups of four, playing 51 matches in total. Riyadh hosts five venues, including the opening match and final at King Fahd Sports City Stadium.
The trophy’s design is inspired by the lotus—a culturally significant aquatic plant Asian Cup broadcasters by country native to Asia. At the 2019 group-stage draw held on 4 May 2018 inside Dubai’s Burj Khalifa (a newly crafted trophy), handcrafted by London’s Thomas Lyte silversmiths, was presented. The trophy underwent a redesign, featuring more silver and minimizing the black base to just a thin strip. Before the 2000 tournament, the black base held engraved plaques listing every winning nation and the specific edition they claimed victory in. The knockout phase comprises a single-elimination tournament, starting with the round of 16 and concluding with the championship match.
The tournament’s timing and venue selection are designed to maximize fan engagement and regional accessibility. This announcement builds on the Kingdom’s successful organization of major events, including the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, the Spanish and Italian Super Cups, and upcoming events like Formula 1 and the Dakar Rally. 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
Staying online: roaming and eSIM
Six finals, not one of them played in the Kingdom. Five of the eight grounds are in Riyadh, two in Jeddah, one in Al Khobar, and Jeddah to Al Khobar is 1,229 kilometres across the country, coast to coast. Knockout ties show draw slots until the groups are played. Played, won, drawn and points fill in from 7 January; until then every side reads zero. It consists of a wordmark and a trophy symbol derived from Najdi stepped geometry, an architectural and decorative style native to Saudi Arabia. In the knockout stage — extra time and a penalty shoot-out will be used to decide the winner if necessary.
Watching the tournament from Bangladesh
Their clash might dramatically reshape the knockout bracket, particularly if a top favorite finishes second instead of first. Four-time champions Japan shared their group with Qatar (two-time defending champions), Thailand, and Indonesia. Palestine is also stepping in with renewed confidence after qualifying for the knockout stage of the previous AFC Asian Cup for the first time. Saudi Arabia (the hosts), were paired with Kuwait, Oman, and Palestine in a group entirely made up of West Asian teams.
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. The country became the first in the Middle East to host the world’s biggest sporting event, triumphing over strong competition from the United States and Australia. In 2010, Qatar was chosen as the host country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Since 2019 (no third place play-off has been played; from 2023), losing semi-finalists are ranked by the AFC based on goal difference in the semi-finals.
From 7 January to 5 February 2027 (Riyadh), Jeddah and Al Khobar welcome 24 national teams for 51 matches. Riyadh (Jeddah and Al Khobar), across eight stadiums. This guide is written for neutral Bangladeshi fans following the tournament rather than supporting their own national team.
Qualified nations include Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, Iran, Qatar, UAE, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Oman, Palestine, Jordan, Bahrain, China, Indonesia, DPR Korea, Kuwait, and the Kyrgyz Republic. Eighteen nations have qualified (including Saudi Arabia as the host nation), with six more spots to be decided through qualifiers. King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh will be the main venue, undergoing extensive upgrades to meet the highest AFC standards. Eight stadiums across three host cities—Riyadh (Jeddah), and Al Khobar—will host matches, with each city anchored by a main stadium. The use of upgraded and new stadiums reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to modern infrastructure, which also aligns with goals to boost tourism and international cooperation. With 18 nations already qualified—including Saudi Arabia (host) (Australia), Japan, Korea Republic, Iran, Qatar, UAE, and others—the event will strengthen football’s profile in Asia.
Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport serves the two Jeddah stadiums and is also the closest major airport for fans combining the tournament with an Umrah visit. Meet the 24 national teams drawn into six groups for Saudi Arabia 2027. Held by the United Arab Emirates, the hosts breached into the final for the first time ever but were unable to win the trophy after losing to Saudi Arabia, who made it into the country’s fourth consecutive Asian finals, on penalties. Japan hosted the 1992 AFC Asian Cup, which was reduced to eight teams and two groups, where it emerged victorious after beating Saudi Arabia, then-defending champions, 1–0, to win the country’s first major international honour.
South Korea 2 One of Asia’s strongest football nations despite their long wait for another continental title. Several teams enter the tournament with realistic ambitions of lifting the trophy. They are joined by the four best third-placed teams, creating a 16-team knockout stage. The top two nations from each group qualify automatically for the Round of 16. South Korea were drawn alongside the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Yemen. 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.
The teams hosting the qualification groups are also allocated to an additional “Hosts Pot”, to ensure they are drawn into different groups. The teams were drawn into six groups of four teams each, with the seeding based on the November 2024 FIFA World Rankings. The third roundnote 1 of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification was played from 25 March 2025 to 4 June 2026. Both the opening match and the Final will take place at King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh, establishing the capital as the venue for the tournament’s first and last fixtures. Matches will be staged across Riyadh (Jeddah and Al Khobar), outlining a month-long calendar for participating national teams and supporters. Afc asian cup 2027 afc asian cup groups afc asian cup teams asian football asian group asian teams Football – Articles and Posts football news soccer soccer news
Twenty-four national teams will compete across 51 matches in Riyadh (Jeddah and Al Khobar), with the continent’s strongest sides battling to succeed two-time defending champions Qatar. Comfortable operating as an attacking midfielder or out wide, Marhoon combines creativity with an eye for goal and is an important figure for both club and country. Stadium confirmations, venue guides and the stories behind the tournament, straight to your inbox. Here are the most expensive stadiums ever built, ranked by construction cost, plus the cost-per-seat math that shows which ones were really the wildest spends. SoFi Stadium cost around 5.5 billion dollars — more than the next two most expensive stadiums combined. From Narendra Modi Stadium to the newly expanded Camp Nou (here are the biggest stadiums on Earth), ranked by capacity with the context that makes each one worth knowing.