Published:
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has finalised the schedule for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, confirming kick-off times and venues for the continental tournament running from January 7 to February 5, 2027. Hosts Saudi Arabia will open the competition against Palestine at 8pm local time on January 7 at Riyadh’s King Fahd Sports City Stadium, which has a listed capacity of 72,000.
The 19th edition of Asia’s leading men’s national-team competition will feature 24 teams divided into six groups of four. The finalised schedule maps the group stage through January 20, followed by the knockout rounds across eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
The AFC’s official match schedule confirms the tournament will begin on Thursday, January 7, with Saudi Arabia taking on Palestine in Group A. The group stage runs until January 20, while the round of 16 is scheduled from January 22 to 25. The quarter-finals will be played on January 28 and 29, followed by the semi-finals on February 1 and 2. The final is set for February 5.
All kick-off times in the official schedule are shown in Saudi Arabia local time, which is GMT+3. The opening match is listed for 8pm, while many other group fixtures are scheduled in afternoon and evening windows. Fans should check the official fixture grid for the precise time and venue of each match as they plan their viewing.
Group A features Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Palestine. Group B contains Uzbekistan, Bahrain, DPR Korea and Jordan. Group C brings together the Islamic Republic of Iran, Syria, Kyrgyz Republic and China PR.
Group D includes Australia, Tajikistan, Iraq and Singapore, while Group E comprises Korea Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Yemen. Group F features Japan, Qatar, Thailand and Indonesia. Each side has three group matches, with progress into the knockout stage determined by the tournament’s competition format.
The schedule places several established Asian contenders into intriguing group-stage contests. Japan and Qatar are grouped together in Group F, while Iran and China PR meet in Group C. Australia’s Group D opponents include Iraq and Tajikistan, and Group E includes Korea Republic and the United Arab Emirates.
Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar will share hosting duties. Riyadh venues listed by the AFC include King Fahd Sports City Stadium, King Saud University Stadium, Kingdom Arena, Imam Mohammed Bin Saud University Stadium and Al Shabab Stadium. Jeddah will host matches at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, while Al Khobar’s Aramco Stadium completes the eight-venue list.
The stadiums vary considerably in listed capacity. King Fahd Sports City Stadium is the largest at 72,000, followed by King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah at 60,000. Aramco Stadium is listed at 45,000, while Al Shabab Stadium has a capacity of 13,000. The spread of venues gives the tournament a three-city footprint while allowing matches to be staged in different-sized grounds.
Qatar arrive as defending champions after winning the 2019 and 2023 editions. They will attempt to maintain their recent continental dominance in a tournament that also offers Saudi Arabia the opportunity to compete on home soil. The AFC notes that Saudi Arabia have won the title three times, although this will be the kingdom’s first time hosting the competition.
The finalised schedule gives teams, supporters and broadcasters a clearer framework for the tournament, from the opening fixture in Riyadh through to the final on February 5. With the dates, venues and kick-off times confirmed, attention can turn to preparations and the tactical challenges posed by the six groups. The official AFC schedule remains the reference point for fixture-by-fixture details, including local kick-off times and stadium assignments.
For Indian football supporters, the tournament will offer a month of continental competition featuring several of Asia’s most followed national teams. The group-stage matchups, followed by a compact knockout calendar, mean the race to the final will build quickly once play begins in January.
