This is the first time the number one continental tournament at the men's national team level has implemented a similar organization format to the World Cup standard.
According to the plan, each participating team will be arranged a fixed accommodation hotel and a separate training location throughout the competition in Saudi Arabia. In addition, the teams will also be guaranteed facilities when moving between host cities. This model was previously applied at the 2022 World Cup, aiming to optimize logistics and create professional stability for the teams.
The 2027 Asian Cup takes place from January 7 to February 5, 2027 in three cities Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. King Fahd Stadium (Riyadh) with a capacity of about 72,000 seats will host the opening and final matches. The draw for the group stage is scheduled to be held on April 11 in Riyadh.
As of now, 20/24 teams have qualified for the final round. The remaining four slots will be determined after the final match of the 3rd qualifying round on March 31.
Regarding Group F, the Vietnamese team is awaiting the final ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the case of the Malaysian team. The handling result will directly affect the competitive situation for a place in the final round.
In the context that preparation time is running out, the AFC's early announcement of the organization model helps teams proactively build professional plans, logistics and choose suitable locations if they participate in the 2027 Asian Cup.
