2027 AFC Asian Cup

2027 AFC Asian Cup
كأس آسيا 2027
Tournament details
Host countrySaudi Arabia
DatesJanuary 2027
Teams24 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)10 (in 4 host cities)
← 2023
2031 →

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 involves 24 national teams after the expansion in 2019. It will be held in Saudi Arabia.[1] [2] 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, high summer temperatures in the Persian Gulf, and Qatar's participation in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Host selection

Main article: 2027 AFC Asian Cup bids

AFC confirmed that the following member associations expressed their interests to host 2027 Asian Cup before the 30 June 2020 deadline,[3] and they gave their necessary letters of undertaking in November.[4] On 17 October 2022, the AFC Executive Committee announced that the host of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup would be chosen by the AFC Congress at its next meeting on 1 February 2023 in Manama, Bahrain.[5][6] However, India, one of the last two bidders, withdrew on 5 December[7] leaving Saudi Arabia as the only remaining bidder. On 1 February, the AFC confirmed that Saudi Arabia won the bid and will host the tournament for the first time.[1]

Qualification

Main article: 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification

The first two rounds of qualification will act as part of the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Saudi Arabia, which received automatic qualification for the Asian Cup as host, is also expected to participate in the qualifiers to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.[8]

Northern Mariana Islands, whose football association became the 47th full AFC member during the confederation's 30th Congress on 9 December 2020,[9] are eligible to enter the qualification tournament only for the Asian Cup.

Qualified teams

Team Method of
qualification 		Date of
qualification 		Finals
appearances 		Last
appearance 		Previous best
performance
 Saudi Arabia Hosts 1 February 2023 12th 2023 Winners (1984, 1988, 1996)

Venues

The following are the host cities and venues selected for Saudi Arabia's bid:[10]

Riyadh
King Fahd Sports City Stadium King Saud University Stadium Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium (Qiddiya) Riyadh Stadium
Capacity: 92,000
(after expansion) 		Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 44,500
(after expansion) 		Capacity: 40,000
(new) 		Capacity: 40,000
(new)
Jeddah Dammam Khobar
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium Dammam Stadium Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Stadium Prince Saud bin Jalawi Sports City Stadium
Capacity: 65,000 Capacity: 27,000
(after expansion) 		Capacity: 40,000
(new) 		Capacity: 25,226
(after renovation) 		Capacity: 24,440
(after expansion)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Saudi Arabia confirmed as hosts of the AFC Asian Cup 2027". Asian Football Confederation. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Men's International Match Calendar 2023-2030" (PDF). FIFA. April 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Five Member Associations express interest to host 2027 AFC Asian Cup". aseanfootball.org. ASEAN Football Federation. 2 July 2020.
  4. ^ "All five 2027 Asian Cup bidders meet latest deadline to submit documents". Inside the Games. Dunsar Media Company Limited. 13 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Qatar to host AFC Asian Cup 2023; India and Saudi Arabia shortlisted for 2027 edition". Asian Football Confederation. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  6. ^ "AFC Executive Committee (term 2023-2027): Final list of candidates confirmed". AFC. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  7. ^ "AIFF Statement". Asian Football Confederation. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  8. ^ "ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals". Asian Football Confederation. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2015.
  9. ^ "AFC Congress approves NMIFA's membership". AFC. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  10. ^ "04 Stadiums". AFC Asian Cup 2027 Bid Book (PDF). Saudi Arabian Football Federation. 28 December 2020. p. 38.

External links