AFC Asian Cup

Fans can purchase tickets for all 51 matches, including the opening match, knockout rounds and the final, which will take place from 7 January to 5 February 2027. The five winning teams will advance to the AFC Asian Cup qualification final stage. In the first stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2027 AFC Asian Cup joint qualifiers, the 20 teams ranked 27th to 46th in Asia will play two-legged ties on a home-and-away basis, with the 10 winning teams advancing to the second stage. Qualified nations include Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, Iran, Qatar, UAE, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Oman, Palestine, Jordan, Bahrain, China, Indonesia, DPR Korea, Kuwait, and the Kyrgyz Republic. Eight stadiums across three host cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar—will host matches, with each city anchored by a main stadium. The use of upgraded and new stadiums reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to modern infrastructure, which also aligns with goals to boost tourism and international cooperation.

The names of the winning nations were etched around a plaque-free base. Redesigned, the trophy now features significantly more silver, with the black base reduced to a minimal strip underneath. Prior to the 2000 tournament, the black base held plaques inscribed with every AsianCup 2027 guide champion’s name and the year of their victory. In the knockout phase, the sixteen teams engage in a single-elimination tournament, starting with the round of 16 and concluding with the championship match. Teams face three matches in their groups of four, with the victors and runners-up from each group, plus the top four third-placed teams, advancing to the knockout rounds. At the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, Qatar—both hosts and defending champions—secured back-to-back titles by defeating Jordan in the final.

The knockout stage included the six group winners, six runners-up, and the four best-performing third-place teams from the six groups. No South Asian national teams secured qualification, marking the first time since 2015 and only the second instance since 2007.

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Since 2019, no third-place playoff has been held; instead, the AFC ranks losing semifinalists based on their semi-final goal difference from 2023 onward. Since 1972, the knockout stage has been incorporated into the final tournament format. The competition’s first four editions featured just four or five teams, all competing in a single group. The trophy’s design draws inspiration from the lotus, a culturally significant aquatic plant in Asia. On May 4, 2018, during the 2019 group stage draw at Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, a newly crafted trophy—crafted by London silversmiths Thomas Lyte—was revealed.

Here are the world’s most costly stadiums, ranked by construction expenditure, alongside a breakdown of cost-per-seat to highlight the most extravagant investments. SoFi Stadium’s $5.5 billion price tag surpasses the combined cost of the next two most expensive stadiums. From Narendra Modi Stadium to the expanded Camp Nou, these are Earth’s largest venues, ranked by capacity with key context about each. Six finals took place, none within the Kingdom’s borders. Two venues along the Red Sea coast hosted matches, including a semifinal at King Abdullah Sports City. Knockout match pairings are assigned during the draw before the group stage begins.

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Japan would go on to retain their Asian trophy four years later, albeit in a more struggling style and a very heated, politically charged final toward hosts China. Held by the United Arab Emirates, the hosts breached into the final for the first time ever but were unable to win the trophy after losing to Saudi Arabia, who made it into the country’s fourth consecutive Asian finals, on penalties. Using the same format of the two previous editions, this tournament only had four teams and played in one single group to determine the champions. Australia joined the Asian confederation in 2007 and hosted the Asian Cup finals in 2015, winning the competition in the final against South Korea.

South Korea: One of Asia’s football powerhouses, despite their prolonged wait for another continental crown. Multiple teams enter the tournament with genuine hopes of lifting the trophy. Their ranks are bolstered by the four highest-placed third-place teams, resulting in a 16-team knockout bracket. The top two teams from each group earn automatic qualification for the Round of 16. The draw has set up intriguing matchups, such as an all-Arab Group A and a Group F clash between Japan and defending champions Qatar. Eighteen nations secured their spots through early qualification, while six more were decided in the final round.

As teams prepare for the January 7–February 5, 2027, continental event, *the-AFC.com* gathered insights from several coaches after the glamorous Final Draw at Riyadh’s historic Salwa Palace. A total of 16 teams, including the host nation, will compete in the final tournament. Knockout match pairings are determined during the draw before the group stage, with three venues targeting 2026 completion dates—details we have not independently verified.

“More than 50 organisations are working as one team to deliver an exceptional experience for fans, from the moment they arrive until they leave the Kingdom, reflecting the essence of Saudi hospitality.” “With the countdown to the start of the competition under way, all preparations are coming together,” she said. The tournament’s local organising committee chief executive Mai Al-Halabi said work was progressing as planned across the eight stadiums that will host the 24 participating teams. The local organising committee said preparations had moved beyond planning as the country works towards hosting the largest edition of the tournament to date. Saudi Arabia says preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup have entered the full operational phase, with 100 days remaining before the tournament begins on 7 January 2027. AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia features 24 teams across Asia’s strongest national teams.

Where the knockout rounds are played

*“From the stadiums’ quality and fan experience to the facilities, we are assured that every preparation will meet the highest standards by January, ensuring Saudi Arabia is fully prepared to host this Asian football festival.”* Our eight stadiums are progressing well to host the 24 competing nations, with over 50 entities collaborating to deliver a flawless fan experience from arrival to departure, centered around Saudi hospitality. AFC Asian Cup | AFC Asian Cup 2027 | AFC Asian Cup 2027 News | AFC Asian Cup Tickets – Football News, Articles & Updates. Eighteen nations have qualified, with Saudi Arabia as hosts, and six remaining spots to be decided in qualifiers.