KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) officially confirmed on April 14, 2026, that the Final Draw for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 has been rescheduled to May 9, 2026. The ceremony will take place in the At-Turaif District in ad-Dir’iyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The event was originally scheduled for April 11 in Riyadh. According to the AFC, the adjustment was made to ensure the participation of all key stakeholders and Participating Member Associations (PMAs). Currently, 23 of the 24 participating nations have been confirmed for the 19th edition of the tournament. The final remaining spot will be decided on June 4, 2026, following the match between Lebanon and Yemen in Group B.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time from January 7 to February 5, 2027. During the draw, the 24 qualified teams will be divided into six groups of four. The AFC and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) stated that the choice of ad-Dir’iyah aims to reflect the prestige of the continent’s flagship football competition.
Further technical details, including the official start time and broadcast partners, will be released by the AFC through its official channels in the coming weeks.