Asian Cup 2027 Postponed: New Dates, Groups and Team Shirts

The AFC announced on 3 November 2026 that the Asian Cup will not start in January. The new dates still need FIFA approval, so treat them as the AFC’s stated plan until that comes through. This page covers the dates, the groups, the venues and which of the 24 teams’ shirts we carry.

When is the 2027 Asian Cup now?

The tournament is now set for 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028 in Saudi Arabia. It was due to run from 7 January to 5 February 2027. The AFC says the new dates will go to FIFA for approval. Match dates published before the postponement should no longer be relied on, so we have left them off this page.

Why was the Asian Cup postponed?

The AFC cited “exceptional circumstances” from developments in the region, along with logistical complexity and travel disruption. The local organising committee says preparations will continue for the new dates. The AFC had said a week earlier that the tournament would go ahead as planned.

Which teams are in each Asian Cup group?

Twenty-four teams were drawn into six groups of four in Diriyah on 9 May 2026. Yemen took the last place by beating Lebanon 2-0 on 4 June. We have not seen any AFC statement changing the groups after the postponement. The top two in each group and the four best third-placed teams reach the round of 16.

Where will the Asian Cup be played?

The plan announced before the postponement uses eight stadiums in three cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. Riyadh has five of them, including King Fahd Sports City Stadium, which was named as the venue for the final. Jeddah has King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City, and Al Khobar has Aramco Stadium.

Who has won the Asian Cup most often?

Japan hold the record with four titles (1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011). Saudi Arabia and Iran have three each. Qatar are the holders, having won in 2019 and again in the edition played in early 2024. Saudi Arabia will host for the first time, and the Kelme Khuzama was revealed as the match ball on 29 September 2026.

Which Asian Cup team shirts can you buy at 433FC?

We carry 12 of the 24 teams, listed below as of 3 November 2026. Most of these are the kits made for the 2026 World Cup cycle. We have none for Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, North Korea, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand or Indonesia.

Should you buy a team shirt now or wait for new kits?

That depends on what you want it for. The tournament is now more than a year away, so some teams may have new shirts by December 2027, and we have not seen any team confirm which kit it will wear. If you want a shirt to wear now, the 2026 kits in the table are what we carry. If you want the exact Asian Cup shirt, waiting is the safer choice.

433FC is an independent retailer of replica supporter shirts, not affiliated with any club, league, confederation or manufacturer.

Sources: AFC statement, 3 November 2026; NBC Sports; ESPN on the draw; Qatar Tribune on Yemen’s qualification. Last checked 3 November 2026.

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