Saudi Arabia confirms January start for Asian Cup 2027 despite attacks

Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 Asian Cup in January and February despite recent doubts surrounding the tournament’s schedule due to ongoing attacks on the country and wider regional unrest. The continental championship will get under way on January 7 in Riyadh, where the hosts will take on Palestine in a Group A fixture, according to the tournament schedule announced by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Monday. Riyadh’s 72,000-seat King Fahd Sports City Stadium will also host the inaugural match and serve as the venue for the final on February 5. Eight venues – five in Riyadh, two in Jeddah and one in Al-Khobar – will host the 51 matches across the 29-day tournament.