AFC Asian Cup
On May 9 (Saturday), the Continent’s attention will turn to Diriyah—situated on the northwestern outskirts of the capital, Riyadh—for the Final Draw of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, which will be the 19th edition of the crown jewel.
History and heritage
In a setting that bridges the grandeur of Saudi history with the scale of a major global sporting event, the prestigious Final Draw will take place at the immaculate Salwa Palace, a historical landmark that served as the seat of governance of the First Saudi State for four decades.
Located in the At-Turaif District—inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010—in Diriyah, it was established in 1766 AD by Imam Abdulaziz bin Muhammad, the second Imam of the First Saudi State, to serve as the political and administrative centre of the State. Spanning an area of over 10,000 square metres, Salwa Palace remains the largest standing structure in the town and bore witness to numerous essential milestones in the history of the First Saudi State.
Built in a distinctive Najdi architectural style, Salwa Palace features majestic walls, unique decorative triangular windows and expansive grounds. A testament to the Kingdom’s profound heritage, its name is believed to be derived from the Arabic term “Salwa”, meaning solace or comfort, as the iconic building bestows a sense of peace and serenity on visitors.
The Final Draw is scheduled to begin at 9pm (GMT+3) and will be streamed live on the AFC Asian Cup YouTube channel and AFC TikTok page, so be sure to tune in!
Luck of the draw
Of the 24 sides that will do battle for the magnificent trophy, 23 have been confirmed to be part of the final cast following an intense series of qualifying matches that spanned three years and concluded in March. The sole remaining spot will be taken by either Lebanon or Yemen, who will meet on June 4, 2026 to decide their fate.
The teams will be divided into four pots of six each, in accordance with the latest FIFA Ranking as of April 1. Thereafter, the teams will be drawn into six groups of four each across Groups A to F.
To ensure that Saudi Arabia contests the opening match, the hosts have been allocated the first position in Pot 1 and will be drawn first. The full list is as follows:
Pot 1: Saudi Arabia (FIFA Rank: 61), Japan (18), Islamic Republic of Iran (21), Korea Republic (25), Australia (27), Uzbekistan (50)
Pot 2: Qatar (55), Iraq (57), Jordan (63), United Arab Emirates (68), Oman (79), Syria (84)
Pot 3: Bahrain (91), Thailand (93), China PR (94), Palestine (95), Vietnam (99), Tajikistan (103)
Pot 4: Kyrgyz Republic (107), DPR Korea (118), Indonesia (122), Kuwait (134), Singapore (147), Lebanon (108)/Yemen (149)
At-Turaif (Photo: Diriyah media kit/Diriyah.sa)
Aiming to soar at home
For the first time in its history, the AFC Asian Cup™ will be staged in Saudi Arabia and it marks only the fourth time that a team which has won the trophy has subsequently gone on to serve as a tournament host after Korea Republic (1956/1960), IR Iran (1968/1976) and Qatar (2019/2023).
The West Asians are the 18th different host nation and will become the eighth side to lift the ultimate prize on home soil if they are able to add to their three titles from 1984, 1988 and 1996 – a feat that would also draw them level with Japan for the most successes.
Since making a triumphant debut in 1984, the Green Falcons have never missed an edition of the Continental flagship and their 12th appearance begins at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh with the opener on January 7, 2027. The 72,000-capacity venue is the largest of the eight stadiums that are set to provide the backdrops throughout the tournament, which comprise four other venues in the capital along with two in Jeddah and one in Al Khobar.
Familiar faces – and one historic qualification
There is no lack of familiar faces in the cast for Asian football fans, with 20 of the 23 confirmed participants having been involved at the 2023 edition. Among them are the two sides that share the record for the most Finals appearances with 16: IR Iran and Korea Republic. The former’s achievement has come in consecutive fashion—a standalone record—and they remain the only team to win three titles in a row (1968, 1972, 1976).
The three exceptions are DPR Korea, Kuwait and Singapore, whose most recent appearances came in 2019, 2015 and 1984 respectively; three will become four if Yemen makes it, having made their bow in 2019. In particular, qualification was a historic moment for Singapore, whose sole previous showing was as hosts in 1984; as such, the Lions’ pivotal victory last November that sealed progress was their maiden qualification on merit.
Main image: Salwa Palace, At-Turaif by Wang Haizhou/XINHUA/Xinhua via AFP
