AFC Asian Cup 2027 Kick-off Times in India (IST)

Searching for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 time in India? Add 2 hours and 30 minutes to the Saudi kick-off time to get IST.

The tournament kicks off on 7 January in Saudi Arabia. The full match schedule — dates, teams, venues, and kick-off times — is now confirmed, with tickets on sale for all 51 matches.

This guide gives you the conversion rule, the complete fixture list, and the expected viewing windows for India.

When Is the AFC Asian Cup 2027?

The AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 runs from 7 January to 5 February 2027. It is the 19th edition of Asia’s top international football tournament, and the first ever held in Saudi Arabia.

Twenty-four national teams compete across eight stadiums in three host cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. The opening match pits hosts Saudi Arabia against Palestine at King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh, the same 70,000-capacity venue that will stage the final on 5 February.

Jeddah’s matches are split between King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City Stadium. Al Khobar’s new 45,000-seat venue — called Al Khobar Stadium by the Saudi Press Agency and Aramco Stadium in other reporting — hosts matches at every stage except the final.

AFC Asian Cup 2027 Time in India: The Conversion Rule

Saudi Arabia runs on Arabia Standard Time (AST), a fixed UTC+3 with no daylight saving changes. India runs on Indian Standard Time (IST), a fixed UTC+5:30, also with no daylight saving changes.

That gives a constant, simple offset: IST is always 2 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Saudi local time. The gap never shifts during the tournament, since neither country adjusts its clocks.

AFC Asian Cup 2027 Kick-off Times: Now Confirmed

The AFC and the Local Organising Committee announced the full match schedule — dates, venues, and the group draw structure — on 2 March 2026. At that time, the AFC said kick-off times would follow the final draw.

The final draw itself was delayed. It was originally set for 11 April 2026 at the At-Turaif District in Diriyah, then postponed amid concerns over the 2026 Iran war and eventually held at the same venue on 9 May 2026.

Ticket sales for all 51 matches opened on 12 May 2026 through Ahlan, the tournament’s official ticketing platform, with a specific kick-off time listed for every match. That published schedule is the basis for the times on this page.

The confirmed times

Every match kicks off at 7:00 PM AST (9:30 PM IST), with one exception: the opening match, Saudi Arabia vs Palestine on 7 January, kicks off at 8:00 PM AST (10:30 PM IST).

That holds across the group stage, the Round of 16, the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, and the final. Add 2 hours 30 minutes to any Saudi kick-off time below to get the India viewing time.

Full Match Schedule: Group Stage Dates

The group draw split 24 teams into six groups of four. Below is every group-stage match, with kick-off time confirmed: 7:00 PM AST (9:30 PM IST) for every match except the opener, which kicks off at 8:00 PM AST (10:30 PM IST).

Add 2 hours 30 minutes to any Saudi kick-off time above to get the India viewing time. Every match lands the same evening in India — none tip into the next calendar day.

Knockout Rounds: Dates to Watch

The knockout bracket runs across four windows after the group stage ends. Exact matchups depend on who finishes where in each group, so only the round dates are fixed for now — but every knockout match kicks off at the same confirmed time as the group stage.

Watching the Asian Cup From India

India did not qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. The team was eliminated in the third round of Asian Cup qualifying, losing 1-2 to Singapore in Goa on 14 October 2025, so the appeal for Indian viewers is following the region’s biggest football nations rather than a home team.

Japan, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Qatar are all in the field, along with Group E’s Yemen, Vietnam, and UAE. Saudi Arabia is also home to one of the world’s largest Indian expatriate communities, which adds an on-the-ground viewing angle even without an Indian team on the pitch.

FanCode holds the streaming and broadcast rights for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in India, as part of a 2025–2028 partnership covering all major AFC competitions. Some matches are also expected to be sub-licensed to a free-to-air television channel, but FanCode’s own app and website will be the primary way to watch.

What time to tune in

Every match falls at the same time for Indian viewers: 9:30 PM IST, comfortably in prime time.

The only exception is the opening match on 7 January, which kicks off at 10:30 PM IST. There are no late-night or overnight kick-offs to plan around.

Planning Your Trip: Flights and Where to Stay

For Indian fans planning to attend in person, multiple carriers fly daily if you’re flying from Delhi or out of Mumbai, with onward connections into Riyadh. January falls in Saudi Arabia’s cooler, more comfortable travel season, which also makes it peak season for hotel demand in host cities.

Book hotels in Riyadh early — it hosts the opening match, the final, and most knockout-round fixtures. Jeddah and Al Khobar also stage Round of 16, quarter-final, and semi-final matches, so don’t assume every knockout game is in Riyadh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Ready for the Asian Cup

Kick-off times are locked in: 9:30 PM IST for almost every match, 10:30 PM IST for the opener. When your dates are set, compare fares and book directly on Wego.

Sources

1. Saudi Press Agency — AFC Announces Match Schedule for AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027
2. The National — Asian Cup draw: Saudi Arabia to face Palestine in opening match, UAE paired with South Korea
3. Wikipedia — 2027 AFC Asian Cup (groups, venues and full match schedule)
4. Wikipedia — 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification
5. All India Football Federation — India knocked out of AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification race after defeat to Singapore
6. Wikipedia — Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3, no daylight saving)
7. Wikipedia — Indian Standard Time (UTC+5:30, no daylight saving)
8. Wikipedia — Non-Resident Indians in Saudi Arabia (citing Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India data)
9. Dream Sports — AFC partners with FanCode to stream Asian football tournaments in India
10. Ahlan — Official AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 ticketing platform, full match schedule with kick-off times
11. Malay Mail — AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 tickets go on sale after final draw in Riyadh
12. AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Local Organising Committee — official tournament site (stadium capacities)

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