Asian Cup 2027: Saudi Arabia confirms January start amid Houthi strikes

The 2027 Asian Football Confederation championship will feature 51 matches, a total confirmed by the tournament organizers on Monday despite ongoing regional instability.

The schedule places the start date on January 7, 2027, in Riyadh. The hosts will face Palestine in the first Group A fixture. The final is set for February 5 at the same venue, the 72,000-seat King Fahd Sports City Stadium.

Organizers selected eight venues for the event. Five are located in Riyadh, two in Jeddah, and one in Al-Khobar. The 29-day competition will involve 24 national teams.

Security concerns have grown in recent weeks. On Sunday, the Saudi-led coalition intercepted projectiles from Yemen targeting cities across the kingdom. The Saudi Civil Defence reported that shrapnel from two intercepted ballistic missiles fell in Jeddah, Taif, Rabigh, and Wadi Al-Mughammas in Mecca province.

Earlier this month, AFC chief Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa stated that a postponement to 2028 was possible if necessary. However, the local organizing committee maintained that the original schedule stands. Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto told reporters he had met with Saudi officials who prioritized the safety of players and fans.

Miyamoto noted that the current situation makes hosting difficult. "Based on what I’ve learned from the news, the situation is still unsafe, so at this point, I don’t think it would be easy to hold the [Asian] Cup there," he said. Organizers of the Dakar Rally also moved their 2027 race out of the country due to recent developments.

International flights at King Khalid International Airport resumed from Terminal 2 on Sunday. Terminal 1 was designated for domestic flights following a suspension after an October 10 strike that killed 13 people. The group stage concludes on January 20, 2027, with knockout rounds starting two days later. Defending champions Qatar will open their campaign against Thailand on January 11.