🌏 AFC Asian Cup 2027
Saudi Arabia hosts Asia's championship for the first time, in January–February 2027.
HostsSaudi Arabia
DatesJanuary 7 – February 5, 2027
Teams24
FinalTBC (Riyadh expected)
Overview
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup is the first hosted by Saudi Arabia. It follows the 2023 edition in Qatar (played January 2024) and is the last major continental tournament before World Cup 2030 qualifying gets under way in Asia.
Matches are expected across Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam/Al Khobar and Abha, with new venues under construction as part of the country's 2034 World Cup programme.
Hosts and venues
Host cities
- Riyadh
- Jeddah
- Al Khobar / Dammam
- Abha
Format
- 24 teams in six groups of four; group winners, runners-up and the four best third-placed teams reach the Round of 16.
- Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The path to Asian Cup 2027: how teams qualify
| Route | How it works |
|---|---|
| Hosts | Saudi Arabia qualifies automatically. |
| Direct entry | Teams that reached the third round of Asian World Cup 2026 qualifying were already qualified for the Asian Cup. |
| Third round | The final qualifying round — 24 teams in six groups, group winners qualifying — concluded in March 2026. |
Key dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| March 2026 | Qualifying complete |
| 2026 | Final draw (TBC) |
| January 7, 2027 | Opening match |
| February 5, 2027 | Final |
Asian Cup 2027 FAQ
Where is the 2027 Asian Cup?
Saudi Arabia — the country's first time hosting the tournament.
When does the Asian Cup 2027 start?
January 7, 2027, with the final on February 5, 2027.
How many teams qualify for the Asian Cup 2027?
24, including hosts Saudi Arabia.
More tournaments
June – July 2030 (exact dates TBC)🌍 World Cup 2030The centenary World Cup: Spain, Portugal and Morocco host, with three opening matches in South America.
June 9 – July 9, 2028🏴 Euro 2028The UK and Ireland co-host the 24-team European Championship, with the final at Wembley.
June – July 2027 (TBC by CAF)🌍 AFCON 2027East Africa's first AFCON: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-host the 24-team tournament.
June 24 – July 25, 2027🇧🇷 Women's World Cup 2027Brazil hosts the first Women's World Cup in South America — 32 teams, final at the Maracanã.
June – July 2028 (TBC)🏆 Copa América 2028South America's championship returns in mid-2028 — host still to be confirmed by CONMEBOL.
June – July 2029 (TBC)🏟️ Club World Cup 2029The second 32-team Club World Cup — host to be chosen by FIFA.
Completed🇪🇸 World Cup 2026Spain beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026.
Details marked TBC had not been confirmed by the organiser when this page was last reviewed (August 16, 2026).