Saudi Arabia will begin its campaign at next year’s Asian Cup against Palestine in Riyadh on January 7, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Monday while confirming the tournament schedule and venues.
The 24-team championship will run from January 7 to February 5. Both the opening match and the final are scheduled to take place at King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh.
Asian Cup to Be Held Across Three Saudi Cities
The tournament will feature 51 matches across eight stadiums in three cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. Riyadh will host matches at five venues, while Jeddah will provide two stadiums and Al Khobar one.
Saudi Arabia will host the Asian Cup for the first time in its history. The tournament will be another major international football event for the kingdom ahead of its planned hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Defending Champions Qatar to Face Thailand
Defending champions Qatar will begin their title defence against Thailand on January 11. Japan will also open their campaign that day, facing Indonesia.
Other opening fixtures include South Korea against Yemen, Australia against Singapore and Iran against China.
The group stage is scheduled to conclude on January 20, with the knockout rounds beginning on January 22.
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Regional Security Concerns Remain
The tournament schedule comes amid continuing scrutiny over regional security concerns. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa previously said that postponing the competition until 2028 remained a possibility if circumstances required it.
The AFC has now confirmed the schedule and venues, with Saudi Arabia preparing to stage the continent’s premier national-team football competition.
The tournament will bring together 24 teams competing for the Asian title, with the hosts set to open the competition against Palestine in Riyadh on January 7.
