AFC Finalizes 2027 Asian Cup Schedule Amid Ongoing Houthi Strikes
The tournament will run from January 7 to February 5 across eight venues, despite recent missile interceptions and concerns from member federations.
By Gabriela Ivanov ·
The Asian Football Confederation published the full schedule for the 2027 Asian Cup on Monday, confirming that the tournament will begin in January as originally planned. This decision comes as regional instability and direct attacks on Saudi infrastructure continue to challenge event organizers.
The competition will span 29 days, starting on January 7 with a Group A match between hosts Saudi Arabia and Palestine in Riyadh. The King Fahd Sports City Stadium, with a capacity of 72,000, will host both this opening fixture and the final on February 5. A total of 51 matches are scheduled across eight venues, including five locations in Riyadh, two in Jeddah, and one in Al-Khobar.
Security concerns remain a central issue for the 24 participating teams. Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, president of the Japan Football Association, stated that the current security picture makes it difficult to proceed as planned. He noted that while Saudi officials told him player and fan safety was their top priority, the situation still appeared unsafe based on recent news reports.
Organizers of other major events have already adjusted their plans in response to the conflict. The Dakar Rally organizers announced on Monday that the 2027 race would move out of Saudi Arabia due to recent regional developments. This follows the suspension of flights from Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport after a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks. International flights resumed from Terminal 2 on Sunday, while Terminal 1 remains dedicated to domestic services.
Saudi Civil Defence reported that shrapnel from two intercepted ballistic missiles fell in Jeddah, Taif, Rabigh, and Wadi Al-Mughammas on Sunday. These interceptions follow an attack on October 10 that killed 13 people and wounded hundreds. The Saudi-led coalition continues to intercept projectiles aimed at various cities as Yemen's Houthis escalate their campaign.
Defending champions Qatar will open their title defense against Thailand on January 11. Other group stage matches scheduled for that day include Japan versus Indonesia, South Korea versus Yemen, Australia versus Singapore, and Iran versus China. The group stage concludes on January 20, with knockout rounds beginning on January 22.
Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC chief, said this month that delaying the championship to 2028 was possible if necessary. However, the local organizing committee has maintained its commitment to the original timetable. This will be the first Asian Cup hosted by Saudi Arabia, which is also set to stage the 2034 World Cup.
