The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the date for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup draw, which will be held in Saudi Arabia.
The draw was originally scheduled for April 11 in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. However, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East led to a postponement to ensure the attendance and participation of all relevant parties and national associations.
2027 AFC Asian Cup Draw Date
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup draw will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
The draw ceremony is scheduled for 9:00 PM and will feature Asian football legends, whose identities have not yet been revealed.
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The teams qualified for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup
As usual, there will be a strong Arab presence, led by the host nation, Saudi Arabia, along with defending champions Qatar and runners-up Jordan. This will be the third consecutive edition of the tournament, featuring 24 teams.
The other participating teams are Iraq, Bahrain, Palestine, Oman, Syria, the UAE, and Kuwait.
One final Arab spot will be decided in June when Yemen faces Lebanon.
The traditional powerhouses of the Asian Cup will also be represented by Japan, South Korea, Australia, Uzbekistan, and Iran, alongside promising teams like North Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, and Tajikistan, as well as China, Kyrgyzstan, and Singapore.
The draw for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup will divide the teams into four pots based on their FIFA ranking. Saudi Arabia will be in Pot 1 and Group A, where they will play the opening match.
Pot 1: Saudi Arabia – Japan – Iran – South Korea – Australia – Uzbekistan
Pot 2: Qatar – Iraq – UAE – Jordan – Oman – Syria
Pot 3: Bahrain – China – Palestine – Kyrgyzstan – Thailand – Tajikistan
Pot 4: North Korea – Indonesia – Kuwait – Singapore – (Lebanon/Yemen)
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AFC Asian Cup 2027 Dates
The 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7, 2027, until the final match on February 5.
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup matches will be held in eight stadiums: King Fahd International Stadium, King Saud University Stadium, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University Stadium, Kingdom Arena, and Al Shabab Stadium in Riyadh.
In Jeddah, matches will be held at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (The Jewel) and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, in addition to Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar.
