AFC finalizes Asian Cup Finals draw date, Vietnam National Team anxiously awaits qualification outcome

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed the schedule for the group stage draw and announced the stadiums for the 2027 Asian Cup Finals matches.

According to the plan, the Group Stage Draw Ceremony for the 2027 Asian Cup Finals is scheduled for April 11th at the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage site in Riyadh. This is considered a crucial step in finalizing the tournament's detailed match schedule, as the final qualifying round is still ongoing.

As confirmed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Local Organizing Committee on March 2nd, the final four qualifying spots will only be determined after the last qualifying matches on March 31st. Therefore, specific match fixtures and official kick-off times will be announced after the draw ceremony.

The 2027 Asian Cup will be held from January 7th to February 5th, 2027, across three cities—Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar—in eight different stadiums.

Focus on the opening and final match venues

The King Fahd Sports City Stadium, with a capacity of approximately 72,000, will host the opening match featuring host nation Saudi Arabia, as well as the final. In addition to these two key matches, the stadium will also host four group stage matches, one round of 16 match, and one quarter-final.

Riyadh features four other venues: King Saud University Stadium, Kingdom Arena, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud University Stadium, and Al Shabab Stadium, which will host the majority of group stage matches and some early knockout matches.

Jeddah and Al Khobar to host decisive matches

In Jeddah, the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium (60,000 capacity) will be the tournament's second key venue, hosting group stage matches, round of 16, quarter-final, and one semi-final match. The Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium will also host several group stage matches and one knockout match.

Meanwhile, the new stadium in Al Khobar (45,000 capacity)—currently under construction—will host matches across most stages of the tournament, including the group stage, round of 16, quarter-finals, and the first semi-final.

A notable feature of this Asian Cup is that each national team will be assigned a dedicated hotel and a fixed training facility for the duration of their participation. Furthermore, when traveling between host cities, teams will be provided with comprehensive logistical support to ensure optimal professional conditions.

Currently, the Vietnam National Team is awaiting the final decision from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regarding the penalty for Malaysia in the naturalized players case. If Malaysia is sanctioned with forfeits for their two matches against Nepal and Vietnam, Coach Kim Sang Sik and his squad will secure qualification, regardless of the result of the replay match on March 31st.