- Kick-off times are confirmed for all 51 matches: 7:00 PM AST (9:00 PM PKT) for almost every match, 8:00 PM AST (10:00 PM PKT) for the opener.
- The tournament runs 7 January to 5 February 2027 across Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
- Neither Pakistan nor Bangladesh qualified, so this is a neutral viewer’s guide to following (or travelling to) the tournament.
- Because the gap is only 2 hours, every match lands at a comfortable evening time in Pakistan: 9:00 PM PKT, or 10:00 PM PKT for the opener.
Full group-stage fixture list in PKT
All 36 group-stage matches are confirmed by date, pairing, city and kick-off time. Every match kicks off at 7:00 PM AST (9:00 PM PKT), except the opener at 8:00 PM AST (10:00 PM PKT).
| Date | Group | Match | City | PKT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan | A | Saudi Arabia v Palestine | Riyadh | 10:00 PM |
| 8 Jan | A | Kuwait v Oman | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 8 Jan | B | Bahrain v North Korea | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 8 Jan | B | Uzbekistan v Jordan | Jeddah | 9:00 PM |
| 9 Jan | C | Syria v Kyrgyzstan | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 9 Jan | C | Iran v China | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 9 Jan | D | Australia v Singapore | Al Khobar | 9:00 PM |
| 10 Jan | D | Tajikistan v Iraq | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 10 Jan | E | South Korea v Yemen | Jeddah | 9:00 PM |
| 11 Jan | E | UAE v Vietnam | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 11 Jan | F | Qatar v Thailand | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 11 Jan | F | Japan v Indonesia | Jeddah | 9:00 PM |
| 12 Jan | A | Oman v Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 12 Jan | B | North Korea v Uzbekistan | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 12 Jan | A | Palestine v Kuwait | Al Khobar | 9:00 PM |
| 13 Jan | C | Kyrgyzstan v Iran | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 13 Jan | B | Jordan v Bahrain | Jeddah | 9:00 PM |
| 14 Jan | D | Iraq v Australia | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 14 Jan | D | Singapore v Tajikistan | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 14 Jan | C | China v Syria | Jeddah | 9:00 PM |
| 15 Jan | E | Yemen v UAE | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 15 Jan | E | Vietnam v South Korea | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 16 Jan | F | Thailand v Japan | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 16 Jan | F | Indonesia v Qatar | Al Khobar | 9:00 PM |
| 17 Jan | A | Oman v Palestine | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 17 Jan | B | North Korea v Jordan | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 17 Jan | A | Saudi Arabia v Kuwait | Jeddah | 9:00 PM |
| 17 Jan | B | Uzbekistan v Bahrain | Jeddah | 9:00 PM |
| 18 Jan | C | Iran v Syria | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 18 Jan | C | Kyrgyzstan v China | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 19 Jan | D | Australia v Tajikistan | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 19 Jan | D | Iraq v Singapore | Al Khobar | 9:00 PM |
| 20 Jan | E | South Korea v UAE | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 20 Jan | F | Japan v Qatar | Riyadh | 9:00 PM |
| 20 Jan | F | Thailand v Indonesia | Jeddah | 9:00 PM |
| 20 Jan | E | Vietnam v Yemen | Jeddah | 9:00 PM |
AFC Asian Cup 2027: confirmed dates and venues
The tournament runs across three Saudi host cities and eight stadiums. Here is the confirmed stage-by-stage schedule, with kick-off time confirmed: 7:00 PM AST (9:00 PM PKT) for every match except the opener, which kicks off at 8:00 PM AST (10:00 PM PKT).
| Phase | Dates | Venues | Saudi kick-off (AST) | Pakistan kick-off (PKT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage · 36 matches | 7–20 January 2027 | Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar | 7:00 PM (8:00 PM for the opener) | 9:00 PM (10:00 PM for the opener) |
| Round of 16 · 8 matches | 22–25 January 2027 | Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Quarter-finals · 4 matches | 28–29 January 2027 | Riyadh, Jeddah, Al Khobar | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Semi-finals · 2 matches | 1–2 February 2027 | Al Khobar, Jeddah | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Final · 1 match | 5 February 2027 | King Fahd Sports City Stadium, Riyadh | 7:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
Travelling to Saudi Arabia for the tournament
Pakistan didn’t qualify, but plenty of fans travel to follow the Asian Cup as neutrals, especially with Riyadh hosting the opener, several group games, and the final. Direct flights to Riyadh run regularly from both Karachi and Lahore on Gulf carriers.
Book hotels in Riyadh early, since match weeks near King Fahd Sports City fill up fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia?
Pakistan is 2 hours ahead of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia runs on Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3) and Pakistan runs on Pakistan Standard Time (UTC+5), and neither country changes clocks for daylight saving, so the gap is fixed all year.
Has the AFC announced kick-off times for the 2027 Asian Cup?
Yes. Kick-off times for all 51 matches were confirmed when ticket sales opened via Ahlan, the tournament’s official ticketing platform, on 12 May 2026. Every match kicks off at 7:00 PM AST (9:00 PM PKT), except the opener at 8:00 PM AST (10:00 PM PKT).
Is Pakistan playing in the AFC Asian Cup 2027?
No. Pakistan did not qualify for the 24-team tournament, and neither did Bangladesh.
This guide is for neutral Pakistani viewers following the tournament and fans planning to travel to Saudi Arabia.
When does the AFC Asian Cup 2027 start and end?
The tournament runs from 7 January to 5 February 2027. The opening match and the final are both at King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh.
Which cities in Saudi Arabia are hosting matches?
Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar host the tournament across eight stadiums. Riyadh stages the most matches, including the opener and the final.
Sources
- Argaam — AFC announces schedule, venues for 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia
- The Peninsula Qatar — Riyadh’s King Fahd stadium to host 2027 Asian Cup final
- Al Jazeera — AFC Asian Cup 2027 group draw
- ESPN — Lebanon 0-2 Yemen, Asian Cup 2027 qualifying play-off, 4 June 2026
- timeanddate.com — Time Zones in Saudi Arabia (UTC+3, no daylight saving)
- timeanddate.com — Time Zones in Pakistan (UTC+5, no daylight saving)
- Ahlan — Official AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 ticketing platform, full match schedule with kick-off times
- Malay Mail — AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 tickets go on sale after final draw in Riyadh
Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.
