Key points
- Tournament runs January 7–February 5
- Riyadh venue seats over 70,000
- Event seen as 2034 World Cup precursor
KUALA LUMPUR: Riyadh’s King Fahd Sports City Stadium has been selected to host both the opening match and the final of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, officials confirmed on Monday. The tournament is widely viewed as a key build-up event ahead of Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Saudi Arabia will stage the continental competition from January 7 to February 5, 2027, before welcoming the world for the World Cup seven years later.
In a statement issued in Kuala Lumpur, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced that the King Fahd Sports City Stadium “will provide the backdrop for both the eagerly anticipated Final as well as the opening match, featuring hosts and three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia.”
The Riyadh venue, which has a capacity exceeding 70,000 spectators, is also scheduled to stage four group matches, one round-of-16 fixture and a quarter-final prior to the final in early February.
The Tent
Nicknamed “The Tent” due to its distinctive roof design inspired by traditional architecture, the stadium is the largest among the eight venues chosen for the tournament.
In addition to Riyadh, matches will also be held in the cities of Jeddah and Al Khobar.
The AFC said match fixtures and kick-off timings will be finalised during the tournament draw, set to take place in Riyadh on April 11.
Qatar, the host of the 2022 World Cup, organised and won the most recent Asian Cup two years ago. The previous edition had originally been scheduled for China in 2023 but was relocated due to the country’s Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
