Committees
Chairing the fifth meeting, held virtually, Chairperson Mariano V. Araneta, Jr. expressed high praise for the significant progress made by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) in setting new benchmarks of excellence for the Continent’s premier men’s tournament.
In tandem with the match schedule, which was announced at the Final Draw on May 9, 2026, at the historic Salwa Palace on the outskirts of Riyadh, the Committee reviewed groundbreaking player welfare milestones, specifically recognising the complete deployment of dedicated Team Base Camps.
Introduced for the first time in the competition’s history, members were pleased to note that all 24 participating Member Associations (PMAs) have locked in their base camps to ensure optimal comfort and preparedness whilst minimising travel fatigue.
Stadium readiness remains a core priority on the operational agenda, with the Committee also reviewing the inspection schedules for ongoing infrastructure works and tracking the close alignment between the AFC and the LOC regarding developments at King Fahd Sports City Stadium and the Imam Mohammed Bin Saud University Stadium. Additionally, updates were provided on the recently-completed, state-of-the-art Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar, which is fully equipped to welcome 45,000 global fans.
Reflecting the AFC’s commitment to ensuring fair play, technical flexibility, and team support, the Committee officially approved a series of Amendments to the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 – Competition Regulations. Chief among these changes is a new provision added to Section 5 under Article 24.6 regarding the Official Team Delegation, which outlines emergency protocols for replacing a registered goalkeeper who suffers a long-term injury or illness. Full details of the latest amendments can be accessed via the-AFC.com in due course.
The Committee was also briefed on the operational roadmap and key milestones in the lead-up to the highly anticipated opener between hosts Saudi Arabia and Palestine at Riyadh’s spectacular 72,000-seater King Fahd Sports City Stadium, as well as final stadium inspections scheduled to be held in November.
Members of the Committee further commended the successful unveiling of the #AsianCup2027 Official Match Ball – KHUZAMA – which was launched prior to the meeting, as well as the launches of both the official tournament ticket sales and the volunteer registration programme, which have collectively set a vibrant foundation for community engagement, alongside plans for an extensive rollout of upcoming fan activations.
All decisions need to be ratified by the AFC Executive Committee before taking effect.
Related News
- AFC Asian Cup
KHUZAMA unveiled as Official Match Ball of AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™
- Committees
AFC Media & Communications Committee applauds continued growth of AFC digital assets
- Committees
AFC Development Committee approves comprehensive revisions to Enhance Programme Regulations
- Committees
AFC Technical Committee proposes new Safe Heading Guidelines
- Committees
AFC Marketing Committee lauds global viewership and milestone commercial achievements
Item 1 of 5