TOKYO: (Web Desk) – Record Asian champions Japan have been drawn alongside defending champions Qatar in Group F for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, while tournament hosts Saudi Arabia will face Kuwait, Oman, and Palestine in the group stage.
The official draw for Asia’s premier football tournament was held on Saturday in Diriyah near Riyadh. The competition will run from January 7 to February 5, 2027, marking the first time Saudi Arabia will host the AFC Asian Cup as part of its broader ambitions ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Saudi head coach Giorgos Donis said playing on home soil would provide an advantage, although it also brings additional pressure. He expressed confidence that the team’s experience would help manage expectations during the tournament.
For the third consecutive edition, the AFC Asian Cup will feature 24 national teams. Twenty-three teams have already secured qualification, while the final berth will be decided through a playoff between Lebanon and Yemen in Doha on June 4. Lebanon only need a draw to book their place in the tournament.
At the draw ceremony, Japan were grouped with Qatar, Thailand, and Indonesia. Japan remain the most successful side in Asian Cup history with four titles, although their last triumph came in 2011.
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Saudi Arabia and Iran have each won the competition three times, while Qatar arrive as back-to-back champions after lifting the trophy in 2019 and 2023. In the previous final, Qatar defeated Jordan 3-1 to secure the title.
Teams were placed into four pots based on the latest FIFA rankings released on April 1. Japan entered as Asia’s highest-ranked nation at 18th globally, followed by Iran, South Korea, and Australia.
Saudi Arabia, positioned as the top seed in Pot 1, are aiming to add another title to their previous triumphs in 1984, 1988, and 1996. The tournament opener on January 7 will feature Saudi Arabia against Palestine at the renovated King Fahd Sports City Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 72,000.
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