The AFC Asian Cup 2027 runs from Thursday, January 7, to Friday, February 5, 2027, in Saudi Arabia. Twenty-four teams play 51 matches in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, with the final at King Fahd Sports City Stadium.
The AFC Asian Cup 2027 is the 19th edition of Asia’s men’s national-team championship, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the first hosted by Saudi Arabia.
It is also the last Asian Cup scheduled in an odd-numbered year. The tournament moves back to even-numbered years from the 2032 edition, which means a five-year gap before the next one.
For viewers in East Asia and Australia, the opening match does not fall on January 7 at all: it kicks off after midnight local time on Friday, January 8.
The tables below give every stage date with its weekday, the opening-match time across 20 time zones, all six groups, and the eight stadiums. This page sits within our guide to major events in 2027.
Table of Contents
When is the AFC Asian Cup 2027?
The AFC Asian Cup 2027 starts on Thursday, January 7, 2027, and ends with the final on Friday, February 5, 2027. The AFC and the Local Organising Committee confirmed both dates on Thursday, January 7, 2025, exactly two years before the opening match (AFC; Saudi Press Agency).
The tournament lasts 30 days, counting both the first and last matchdays.
The table below lists each stage, its dates with weekdays, and the number of matches played. Stage dates come from FIFPlay and Wego, cross-checked against the AFC’s opening and final dates.
| Stage | Start date | End date | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | Thursday, January 7, 2027 | Wednesday, January 20, 2027 | 36 |
| Round of 16 | Friday, January 22, 2027 | Monday, January 25, 2027 | 8 |
| Quarter-finals | Thursday, January 28, 2027 | Friday, January 29, 2027 | 4 |
| Semi-finals | Monday, February 1, 2027 | Tuesday, February 2, 2027 | 2 |
| Final | Friday, February 5, 2027 | Friday, February 5, 2027 | 1 |
AFC Asian Cup 2027 group stage dates
The group stage runs for 14 days, from Thursday, January 7, to Wednesday, January 20, 2027. Each of the six groups plays a round-robin of six matches, for 36 group matches in total.
Only one rest day, Thursday, January 21, separates the last group match from the first round-of-16 tie. Teams finishing third in their group therefore learn whether they have advanced roughly 24 to 48 hours before they may have to play again.
AFC Asian Cup 2027 knockout stage dates
The knockout stage runs from Friday, January 22, to Friday, February 5, 2027, and every tie is single-leg. A drawn knockout match goes to extra time and then a penalty shootout (Wikipedia). The bracket has no third-place match. It runs from Match 37, the first round-of-16 tie, to Match 51, the final.
How the 16 knockout places are filled
The 16 knockout places go to the six group winners, the six runners-up and the four best third-placed teams (Wikipedia). Two of the six third-placed teams are eliminated. The AFC’s bracket then assigns each qualifying third-placed team to a fixed group winner based on which four groups they come from. This is the same 24-team format used in 2019 and 2023.
The final week overlaps several other early-2027 dates. The final on Friday, February 5, falls one day before Chinese New Year 2027 and the annular solar eclipse of February 6, 2027, and nine days before Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14, 2027. Fans planning travel to Saudi Arabia for the knockout rounds should also check the Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr 2027 dates, since the Islamic holy month begins in February 2027.
AFC Asian Cup 2027 kickoff times by time zone
The opening match, Saudi Arabia vs Palestine, kicks off at 8:00 p.m. Arabia Standard Time (AST) on Thursday, January 7, 2027, which is 17:00 UTC. The AFC confirmed the time at its 100-days-to-go milestone (The Peninsula), and Wego lists the same time. Saudi Arabia uses AST, which is UTC+3 all year with no daylight saving time (timeanddate.com).
Opening match time in each time zone
The table below converts the 8:00 p.m. AST opening kickoff into local time. Rows marked “Next day” fall on Friday, January 8, 2027.
| Location | Time zone | Local kickoff | Local date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | PST (UTC−8) | 9:00 a.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Denver | MST (UTC−7) | 10:00 a.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Chicago | CST (UTC−6) | 11:00 a.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| New York | EST (UTC−5) | 12:00 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| London, Accra | GMT (UTC+0) | 5:00 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Lagos, Paris | UTC+1 | 6:00 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Ramallah, Gaza | EET (UTC+2) | 7:00 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Riyadh, Doha, Baghdad, Kuwait City | UTC+3 | 8:00 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Tehran | IRST (UTC+3:30) | 8:30 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Dubai, Muscat | UTC+4 | 9:00 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Tashkent, Dushanbe | UTC+5 | 10:00 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| New Delhi | IST (UTC+5:30) | 10:30 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Bishkek | UTC+6 | 11:00 p.m. | Thursday, January 7 |
| Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi | UTC+7 | 12:00 a.m. | Next day |
| Beijing, Singapore, Perth | UTC+8 | 1:00 a.m. | Next day |
| Tokyo, Seoul, Pyongyang | UTC+9 | 2:00 a.m. | Next day |
| Sydney, Melbourne | AEDT (UTC+11) | 4:00 a.m. | Next day |
Converting any Saudi kickoff time
To convert any AFC Asian Cup 2027 kickoff, add or subtract the fixed offset from AST shown below. The AFC publishes the time for each match on its official fixtures page, so use this table with the listed AST time.
| Teams’ home time zone | Offset from AST | Example: 7:00 p.m. AST becomes |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Syria, Yemen | 0 hours | 7:00 p.m. |
| Palestine | −1 hour | 6:00 p.m. |
| Iran | +30 minutes | 7:30 p.m. |
| United Arab Emirates, Oman | +1 hour | 8:00 p.m. |
| Uzbekistan, Tajikistan | +2 hours | 9:00 p.m. |
| Kyrgyzstan | +3 hours | 10:00 p.m. |
| Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia (Jakarta) | +4 hours | 11:00 p.m. |
| China, Singapore | +5 hours | 12:00 a.m., next day |
| Japan, South Korea, North Korea | +6 hours | 1:00 a.m., next day |
| Australia (Sydney) | +8 hours | 3:00 a.m., next day |
Any kickoff at or after 6:00 p.m. AST falls on the next calendar day in Japan and both Koreas. The same happens for kickoffs at or after 7:00 p.m. AST in China and Singapore, and at or after 8:00 p.m. AST in Jakarta, Bangkok and Hanoi. Supporters of 11 of the 24 qualified teams therefore watch evening matches in the early morning hours.
AFC Asian Cup 2027 groups
The AFC Asian Cup 2027 groups were drawn on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in the At-Turaif District of Diriyah, outside Riyadh (Saudi Press Agency; AFP via New Straits Times). The draw was first set for Saturday, April 11, 2026, and was postponed to make sure all parties could attend.
The table below lists the six groups as drawn (Wikipedia).
| Group | Team 1 | Team 2 | Team 3 | Team 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Saudi Arabia (hosts) | Kuwait | Oman | Palestine |
| B | Uzbekistan | Bahrain | North Korea | Jordan |
| C | Iran | Syria | Kyrgyzstan | China |
| D | Australia | Tajikistan | Iraq | Singapore |
| E | South Korea | United Arab Emirates | Vietnam | Yemen |
| F | Japan | Qatar | Thailand | Indonesia |
Group F puts record winners Japan alongside two-time defending champions Qatar. Group B contains Jordan, runners-up at the previous tournament.
Saudi Arabia’s group-stage schedule
Saudi Arabia plays all three Group A matches across a 10-day window, according to Okaz:
- Thursday, January 7, 2027: Saudi Arabia vs Palestine, King Fahd Sports City Stadium, Riyadh
- Tuesday, January 12, 2027: Oman vs Saudi Arabia, Riyadh (Wego)
- Sunday, January 17, 2027: Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait
Former champions in the 2027 field
Eight former champions qualified for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. Between them, they hold 17 of the 18 previous titles. The table below lists each one’s winning years (Wikipedia).
| Team | Titles | Winning years | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 4 | 1992, 2000, 2004, 2011 | F |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | 1984, 1988, 1996 | A |
| Iran | 3 | 1968, 1972, 1976 | C |
| South Korea | 2 | 1956, 1960 | E |
| Qatar | 2 | 2019, 2023 | F |
| Australia | 1 | 2015 | D |
| Iraq | 1 | 2007 | D |
| Kuwait | 1 | 1980 | A |
Iran’s qualification is its 16th in a row, covering every edition since 1968. No team is making its debut in 2027, the first time that has happened since 2011.
Singapore qualified on merit for the first time; its only previous appearance was as host in 1984. Vietnam’s place was confirmed on Wednesday, March 17, 2026, after the AFC overturned two of Malaysia’s qualifying wins following FIFA sanctions over falsified player eligibility documents (Wikipedia). Yemen took last place by beating Lebanon 2–0 in a play-off in Doha on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
Where is the AFC Asian Cup 2027 played?
The AFC Asian Cup 2027 is played at eight stadiums in three Saudi cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. Riyadh has five of the eight venues (Saudi Press Agency). The table below lists each stadium, its city, its capacity, and the stages it hosts.
| Stadium | City | Capacity | Stages hosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Fahd Sports City Stadium | Riyadh | 72,000 | Opening match, Saudi Arabia matches, group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, final |
| King Saud University Stadium | Riyadh | 26,000 | Multiple stages |
| Kingdom Arena | Riyadh | 26,000 | Multiple stages |
| Imam Mohammed ibn Saud University Stadium | Riyadh | 21,000 to 25,000 | Multiple stages |
| Al-Shabab Club Stadium | Riyadh | 14,000 | Multiple stages |
| King Abdullah Sports City Stadium | Jeddah | 60,000 | Group stage and knockouts |
| Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium | Jeddah | 26,000 | Group stage and knockouts |
| Al Khobar Stadium (Aramco Stadium) | Al Khobar | 45,000 | All stages except the final |
Capacities follow Wikipedia unless noted. Sources disagree on the Imam Mohammed ibn Saud University Stadium. The Saudi Press Agency gives an expanded capacity of 21,000, while Wikipedia lists 25,000 after renovation. The official figure may change once renovation is complete. King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah hosted the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final.
What makes the 2027 tournament different
The AFC Asian Cup 2027 differs from recent editions in four documented ways:
- First Saudi host. Saudi Arabia won the hosting rights on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, after India withdrew its bid on Monday, December 5, 2022 (Wikipedia; AFC).
- Return to the four-year cycle. The 2023 edition was moved to early 2024 after China gave up hosting and because of summer heat in Qatar. The 2027 edition restores the regular schedule.
- Last odd-year edition. From 2032, the Asian Cup returns to even-numbered years, as it was from 1956 to 2004. In March 2026, the AFC also ended the bidding process it had begun for the 2031 and 2035 editions (Wikipedia).
- Largest officiating team. On Thursday, September 24, 2026, the AFC appointed 76 match officials: 24 referees, 41 assistant referees and 11 video match officials (AFC).
The tournament also introduces a Team Base Camp system for the first time (AFC). The official match ball, the Khuzama, was unveiled on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 (The Peninsula). The tournament slogan, “Ahlan Asia”, means “Welcome Asia”.
Where to watch the AFC Asian Cup 2027
Broadcast rights are sold by territory. The table below lists the confirmed rights holders in major markets (Wikipedia, citing AFC announcements).
| Territory | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| United States | Paramount (CBS Sports) |
| Australia | Paramount+ and Network 10 |
| Middle East and North Africa | beIN Sports |
| Japan | DAZN |
| South Korea | Coupang |
| China | Migu |
| India | FanCode |
| Indonesia | MNC Media |
| Vietnam | TV360 |
| Thailand | BG Sports |
What the AFC Asian Cup is not
The AFC Asian Cup is the senior men’s national-team championship of the AFC’s member nations. It is not a cricket event, a club competition or a FIFA tournament.
The table below sets out how they differ.
| Competition | Sport | Organiser | Who plays | Relation to the AFC Asian Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Asian Cup | Football | Asian Football Confederation | 24 senior men’s national teams | This tournament |
| Asia Cup | Cricket | Asian Cricket Council | National cricket teams | Unrelated sport |
| ASEAN Championship (ASEAN Cup, formerly AFF Championship) | Football | ASEAN Football Federation | Southeast Asian national teams | Regional, held every two years |
| FIFA ASEAN Cup | Football | FIFA | 11 ASEAN teams plus invited teams | New FIFA-run regional event, first held in 2026 |
| AFC Champions League Elite | Football | Asian Football Confederation | Club teams | Club competition, not national teams |
| AFC U-23 Asian Cup | Football | Asian Football Confederation | Under-23 national teams | Age-group tournament |
The FIFA ASEAN Cup is the most recent source of confusion. FIFA runs it directly, separately from the ASEAN Championship, and its first edition took place from Thursday, September 24, to Monday, October 5, 2026, in Indonesia and Hong Kong (Khel Now; Vietnam Football Federation).
It is not an Asian Cup qualifier. The 2026 ASEAN Championship ran from Friday, July 24, to Wednesday, August 26, 2026 (Wikipedia).
Qualification for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 also did not run through either ASEAN event. The first two qualifying rounds doubled as Asian qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and two Asian Cup-only rounds followed.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the defending AFC Asian Cup champion?
Qatar is the defending champion. Qatar won the 2019 and 2023 editions, and beat Jordan 3–1 in the 2023 final (AFP via New Straits Times). The 2023 tournament was played in early 2024 after a change of host. Qatar is in Group F with Japan, Thailand and Indonesia for the 2027 edition.
Is there a third-place match at the AFC Asian Cup 2027?
No, there is no third-place match. The knockout bracket runs from Match 37 in the round of 16 to Match 51, the final, on Friday, February 5, 2027. The two losing semi-finalists, beaten on Monday, February 1, and Tuesday, February 2, are both eliminated without a playoff.
Which country has won the most AFC Asian Cup titles?
Japan has won the most titles, with four: 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011. Saudi Arabia and Iran have three each. Saudi Arabia won in 1984, 1988 and 1996, and Iran won three in a row in 1968, 1972 and 1976. All three nations qualified for the 2027 tournament.
How many teams qualify from each group?
The top two teams in each of the six groups qualify, along with the four best third-placed teams. That makes 16 teams in the round of 16, which starts on Friday, January 22, 2027. Two third-placed teams and all six fourth-placed teams are eliminated after the group stage ends on Wednesday, January 20.
When is the next AFC Asian Cup after 2027?
The next edition after 2027 is scheduled for 2032, five years later instead of the usual four. The AFC is moving the tournament back to even-numbered years from 2032 onward. In September 2026, the AFC published bidding regulations for the 2032 edition, and no host had been chosen as of October 2026.
What time does the AFC Asian Cup 2027 opening match start?
The opening match starts at 8:00 p.m. AST on Thursday, January 7, 2027, in Riyadh. That is 17:00 UTC, 12:00 p.m. US Eastern and 9:00 a.m. US Pacific. In Tokyo and Seoul, the match starts at 2:00 a.m. on Friday, January 8, and in Sydney at 4:00 a.m. on January 8.
