2027 AFC Asian Cup
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:22:02 PM Wikipedia source
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup will be the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Asia organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The tournament will involve 24 national teams after the expansion in 2019. It will be held in Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February 2027. The tournament will return to its usual four-year cycle, after the 2023 edition was postponed to 2024 due to the removal of China as hosts and high summer temperatures in Qatar. Qatar are the two-time defending champions, having won their first two titles in 2019 and 2023.
Infobox
Host country
Saudi Arabia
Dates
7 January – 5 February
Teams
24 (from 1 confederation)
Venue
8 (in 3 host cities)
Tables
· Venues
Riyadh
Riyadh
City
Riyadh
Stadium
King Fahd Sports City Stadium
Capacity
72,000
(after renovation)
King Saud University Stadium
King Saud University Stadium
City
King Saud University Stadium
Stadium
26,000
Capacity
Kingdom Arena
Kingdom Arena
City
Kingdom Arena
Stadium
26,000
Capacity
Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium
Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium
City
Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium
Stadium
25,000
(after renovation)
Capacity
Al Shabab Stadium
Al Shabab Stadium
City
Al Shabab Stadium
Stadium
13,000
Capacity
Jeddah
Jeddah
City
Jeddah
Stadium
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
Capacity
60,000
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium
City
Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium
Stadium
26,000
Capacity
Khobar
Khobar
City
Khobar
Stadium
Aramco Stadium
Capacity
45,000
(new)
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Image |
| Riyadh | King Fahd Sports City Stadium | 72,000 (after renovation) | |
| King Saud University Stadium | 26,000 | | |
| Kingdom Arena | 26,000 | | |
| Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium | 25,000 (after renovation) | | |
| Al Shabab Stadium | 13,000 | | |
| Jeddah | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium | 60,000 | |
| Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium | 26,000 | | |
| Khobar | Aramco Stadium | 45,000 (new) | |
· Teams › Qualified teams
Total
Total
Team
Total
Method of
qualification
First
Date of
qualification
Last
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Team
Saudi Arabia
Method of
qualification
Hosts
Date of
qualification
1 February 2023
Appearances
12th
Appearances
1984
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Winners (1984, 1988, 1996)
Australia
Australia
Team
Australia
Method of
qualification
Second round Group I winners
Date of
qualification
26 March 2024
Appearances
6th
Appearances
2007
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Winners (2015)
Iraq
Iraq
Team
Iraq
Method of
qualification
Second round Group F winners
Date of
qualification
26 March 2024
Appearances
11th
Appearances
1972
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Winners (2007)
Iran
Iran
Team
Iran
Method of
qualification
Second round Group E winners
Date of
qualification
26 March 2024
Appearances
16th
Appearances
1968
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Winners (1968, 1972, 1976)
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Team
Uzbekistan
Method of
qualification
Second round Group E runners-up
Date of
qualification
26 March 2024
Appearances
9th
Appearances
1996
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Fourth place (2011)
Qatar
Qatar
Team
Qatar
Method of
qualification
Second round Group A winners
Date of
qualification
26 March 2024
Appearances
12th
Appearances
1980
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Winners (2019, 2023)
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
Team
United Arab Emirates
Method of
qualification
Second round Group H winners
Date of
qualification
26 March 2024
Appearances
12th
Appearances
1980
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Runners-up (1996)
Japan
Japan
Team
Japan
Method of
qualification
Second round Group B winners
Date of
qualification
2 April 2024
Appearances
11th
Appearances
1988
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Winners (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011)
South Korea
South Korea
Team
South Korea
Method of
qualification
Second round Group C winners
Date of
qualification
6 June 2024
Appearances
16th
Appearances
1956
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Winners (1956, 1960)
Oman
Oman
Team
Oman
Method of
qualification
Second round Group D winners
Date of
qualification
6 June 2024
Appearances
6th
Appearances
2004
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Round of 16 (2019)
Palestine
Palestine
Team
Palestine
Method of
qualification
Second round Group I runners-up
Date of
qualification
6 June 2024
Appearances
4th
Appearances
2015
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Round of 16 (2023)
Bahrain
Bahrain
Team
Bahrain
Method of
qualification
Second round Group H runners-up
Date of
qualification
6 June 2024
Appearances
8th
Appearances
1988
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Fourth place (2004)
Jordan
Jordan
Team
Jordan
Method of
qualification
Second round Group G winners
Date of
qualification
6 June 2024
Appearances
6th
Appearances
2004
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Runners-up (2023)
China
China
Team
China
Method of
qualification
Second round Group C runners-up
Date of
qualification
11 June 2024
Appearances
14th
Appearances
1976
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Runners-up (1984, 2004)
Indonesia
Indonesia
Team
Indonesia
Method of
qualification
Second round Group F runners-up
Date of
qualification
11 June 2024
Appearances
6th
Appearances
1996
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Round of 16 (2023)
North Korea
North Korea
Team
North Korea
Method of
qualification
Second round Group B runners-up
Date of
qualification
11 June 2024
Appearances
6th
Appearances
1980
Appearances
2019
Previous best
performance
Fourth place (1980)
Kuwait
Kuwait
Team
Kuwait
Method of
qualification
Second round Group A runners-up
Date of
qualification
11 June 2024
Appearances
11th
Appearances
1972
Appearances
2015
Previous best
performance
Winners (1980)
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Team
Kyrgyzstan
Method of
qualification
Second round Group D runners-up
Date of
qualification
11 June 2024
Appearances
3rd
Appearances
2019
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Round of 16 (2019)
Syria
Syria
Team
Syria
Method of
qualification
Third round Group E winners
Date of
qualification
14 October 2025
Appearances
8th
Appearances
1980
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Round of 16 (2023)
Singapore
Singapore
Team
Singapore
Method of
qualification
Third round Group C winners
Date of
qualification
18 November 2025
Appearances
2nd
Appearances
1984
Appearances
1984
Previous best
performance
Group stage (1984)
Vietnam
Vietnam
Team
Vietnam
Method of
qualification
Third round Group F winners
Date of
qualification
17 March 2026
Appearances
6th
Appearances
1956
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Fourth place (1956, 1960)
Thailand
Thailand
Team
Thailand
Method of
qualification
Third round Group D winners
Date of
qualification
31 March 2026
Appearances
9th
Appearances
1972
Appearances
2023
Previous best
performance
Third place (1972)
Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Team
Tajikistan
Method of
qualification
Third round Group A winners
Date of
qualification
31 March 2026
Appearances
2nd
Appearances
2023
Appearances
Quarter-finals (2023)
TBD
TBD
Team
TBD
Method of
qualification
Third round Group B winners
Date of
qualification
4 June 2026
Previous best
performance
Group stage
| Team | Method of qualification | Date of qualification | Appearances | Previous best performance | ||
| Total | First | Last | ||||
| Saudi Arabia | Hosts | 1 February 2023 | 12th | 1984 | 2023 | Winners (1984, 1988, 1996) |
| Australia | Second round Group I winners | 26 March 2024 | 6th | 2007 | 2023 | Winners (2015) |
| Iraq | Second round Group F winners | 26 March 2024 | 11th | 1972 | 2023 | Winners (2007) |
| Iran | Second round Group E winners | 26 March 2024 | 16th | 1968 | 2023 | Winners (1968, 1972, 1976) |
| Uzbekistan | Second round Group E runners-up | 26 March 2024 | 9th | 1996 | 2023 | Fourth place (2011) |
| Qatar | Second round Group A winners | 26 March 2024 | 12th | 1980 | 2023 | Winners (2019, 2023) |
| United Arab Emirates | Second round Group H winners | 26 March 2024 | 12th | 1980 | 2023 | Runners-up (1996) |
| Japan | Second round Group B winners | 2 April 2024 | 11th | 1988 | 2023 | Winners (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011) |
| South Korea | Second round Group C winners | 6 June 2024 | 16th | 1956 | 2023 | Winners (1956, 1960) |
| Oman | Second round Group D winners | 6 June 2024 | 6th | 2004 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2019) |
| Palestine | Second round Group I runners-up | 6 June 2024 | 4th | 2015 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2023) |
| Bahrain | Second round Group H runners-up | 6 June 2024 | 8th | 1988 | 2023 | Fourth place (2004) |
| Jordan | Second round Group G winners | 6 June 2024 | 6th | 2004 | 2023 | Runners-up (2023) |
| China | Second round Group C runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 14th | 1976 | 2023 | Runners-up (1984, 2004) |
| Indonesia | Second round Group F runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 6th | 1996 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2023) |
| North Korea | Second round Group B runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 6th | 1980 | 2019 | Fourth place (1980) |
| Kuwait | Second round Group A runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 11th | 1972 | 2015 | Winners (1980) |
| Kyrgyzstan | Second round Group D runners-up | 11 June 2024 | 3rd | 2019 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2019) |
| Syria | Third round Group E winners | 14 October 2025 | 8th | 1980 | 2023 | Round of 16 (2023) |
| Singapore | Third round Group C winners | 18 November 2025 | 2nd | 1984 | 1984 | Group stage (1984) |
| Vietnam | Third round Group F winners | 17 March 2026 | 6th | 1956 | 2023 | Fourth place (1956, 1960) |
| Thailand | Third round Group D winners | 31 March 2026 | 9th | 1972 | 2023 | Third place (1972) |
| Tajikistan | Third round Group A winners | 31 March 2026 | 2nd | 2023 | Quarter-finals (2023) | |
| TBD | Third round Group B winners | 4 June 2026 | Group stage | |||
From the April 2026 FIFA World Rankings · Teams › Draw
Saudi Arabia (61) (hosts)
Japan (18)
Iran (21)
South Korea (25)
Australia (27)
Uzbekistan (50)
Saudi Arabia (61) (hosts)
Japan (18)
Iran (21)
South Korea (25)
Australia (27)
Uzbekistan (50)
Pot 1
Saudi Arabia (61) (hosts)
Japan (18)
Iran (21)
South Korea (25)
Australia (27)
Uzbekistan (50)
Pot 2
Qatar (55)
Iraq (57)
Jordan (63)
United Arab Emirates (68)
Oman (79)
Syria (84)
Pot 3
Bahrain (91)
Thailand (93)
China (94)
Palestine (95)
Vietnam (99)
Tajikistan (103)
Pot 4
Kyrgyzstan (107)
North Korea (118)
Indonesia (122)
Kuwait (134)
Singapore (147)
Third round Group B winners
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
| Saudi Arabia (61) (hosts) Japan (18) Iran (21) South Korea (25) Australia (27) Uzbekistan (50) | Qatar (55) Iraq (57) Jordan (63) United Arab Emirates (68) Oman (79) Syria (84) | Bahrain (91) Thailand (93) China (94) Palestine (95) Vietnam (99) Tajikistan (103) | Kyrgyzstan (107) North Korea (118) Indonesia (122) Kuwait (134) Singapore (147) Third round Group B winners |
Group A · Teams › Draw › Draw result
A1
A1
Pos
A1
Team
Saudi Arabia
A2
A2
Pos
A2
Team
Kuwait
A3
A3
Pos
A3
Team
Oman
A4
A4
Pos
A4
Team
Palestine
| Pos | Team |
| A1 | Saudi Arabia |
| A2 | Kuwait |
| A3 | Oman |
| A4 | Palestine |
Group B · Teams › Draw › Draw result
B1
B1
Pos
B1
Team
Uzbekistan
B2
B2
Pos
B2
Team
Bahrain
B3
B3
Pos
B3
Team
North Korea
B4
B4
Pos
B4
Team
Jordan
| Pos | Team |
| B1 | Uzbekistan |
| B2 | Bahrain |
| B3 | North Korea |
| B4 | Jordan |