Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia: groups, venues and tickets

Key facts for the 2027 Asian Cup

This is the first major international tournament of the 2027 calendar, kicking off less than three months from now. It is also the first time Saudi Arabia has staged the Asian Cup finals.

• Dates: 7 January to 5 February 2027
• Format: 24 teams in six groups of four, 51 matches
• Opening match: Saudi Arabia v Palestine, 7 January 2027, Riyadh (stadium to be confirmed)
• Final: 5 February 2027, Riyadh; press reports name the King Fahd Sports City Stadium, still to be confirmed by the AFC
• Kick-off times: to be confirmed

Reports disagree on where the opening game will be played: one names the Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium, others the King Fahd Sports City Stadium. Until the AFC settles it, the venue is to be confirmed.

Asian Cup 2027 draw: the six groups

The draw took place on 9 May 2026 at Salwa Palace in the At-Turaif District of Diriyah, after being pushed back from its original April date.

The fourth slot in Group E was still a Lebanon-or-Yemen place on draw day; later reports give Yemen, but check the official AFC table before relying on it.

Which Asian Cup groups to watch from Britain and the US

Australia in Group D will draw plenty of interest in the UK, given how many Socceroos have come through British clubs, and Iraq brings one of the most passionate travelling followings in the region. Japan and Korea Republic, both regularly packed with players from European leagues, sit in Groups F and E respectively. For American viewers who discovered Asian football through MLS or the Premier League, Group A is the obvious hook: the host nation in front of a home crowd from night one.

We are not in the business of predictions, and squads will only be named closer to January. What is certain is that every group has at least one fixture with a large expatriate community behind it in the Gulf, which affects how quickly tickets go.

Host cities and stadiums of the Asian Cup

Riyadh carries most of the load, with Jeddah on the Red Sea coast and Al Khobar in the Eastern Province completing the map. Official capacities have not been published by the AFC.

• Riyadh: King Fahd Sports City Stadium, King Saud University Stadium, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium, Kingdom Arena, Al Shabab Stadium
• Jeddah: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium
• Al Khobar: a new stadium, name to be confirmed

Match-by-venue allocations are best checked on the AFC's official schedule, since press lists have not always agreed. If you are flying in for several games, Riyadh is the obvious base: five of the eight grounds are there, which keeps travel between matches to a cross-city transfer rather than a flight.

Buying Asian Cup 2027 tickets

The AFC says tickets are on sale. Visa cardholders had a 48-hour priority window from 10 May 2026, after which general sales opened to the public. Prices have not been confirmed in the sources we rely on, so we do not quote any.

1. Start on the AFC's official Asian Cup website and follow its link to the authorised ticketing platform.
2. Create an account in the name of the person attending; expect tickets to be digital and linked to that account.
3. Buy the opening game and any Saudi Arabia fixtures early, as these are the most sought after.
4. Keep an eye out for later releases if your match shows as unavailable.

Resale platforms exist, but they are not part of the official system, and a transferred ticket may not be accepted if it does not match the account holder. If you would rather not keep checking, set up an alert and we will flag new releases and confirmed prices.

Asian Cup travel tips: January in Saudi Arabia

January is one of the more comfortable months to visit the Kingdom, with daytime heat far below summer levels, though desert evenings in Riyadh can be cool. Practical points:

• Check Saudi Arabia's visa rules for your nationality on the official government portal well before you travel.
• Riyadh and Jeddah both have international airports with connections from London and from major US hubs, usually via a Gulf or European stopover.
• Domestic flights are the realistic way to move between Riyadh, Jeddah and the Eastern Province.
• Read up on local customs and dress expectations, which visitors are expected to respect.

After the Asian Cup: what comes next in 2027

Once the Asian Cup ends on 5 February, the club season takes over, building towards the European finals in May and June: the Champions League final in Madrid is set for 5 June 2027. The summer then brings the Women's World Cup in Brazil and the Africa Cup of Nations in East Africa, with Saudi Arabia also invited to the Concacaf Gold Cup. Our full 2027 football calendar brings it all together.