The AFC Asian Cup 2027 will take place from January 7 to February 5 across three cities in Saudi Arabia—Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar, the AFC announced on Tuesday.
In Riyadh, five stadiums will host the matches, including King Fahd Sports City Stadium, King Saud University Stadium, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium, Kingdom Arena, and Al Shabab Stadium. In Jeddah, King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadiums have been confirmed, while a state-of-the-art venue is set to be built in Al Khobar, completing the world-class infrastructure for the tournament.
Saudi Arabia was named the host nation for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in 2023, marking the first time the country will host the prestigious tournament.
“Confirming the dates and selecting the stadiums for AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 is a key milestone in our journey to host the tournament. This announcement is a testament to the ongoing high-level collaboration between us and the AFC, as we work towards delivering an exceptional tournament that meets the aspirations of the entire Asian continent,” said Yasser Al Misehal, President of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
Eighteen teams have already secured their spots for the tournament. The remaining places will be determined during the Qualifiers Final Round, set to begin in March 2025, with six groups of four teams. The winners of each group will complete the final lineup.
India, aiming for its fifth appearance at the AFC Asian Cup, has been placed in Group C alongside Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh. The team will seek to build on its 2019 performance and make further progress on the continental stage.
(With IANS input)
