The Asian Football Confederation announced a new date for the draw of the 2027 Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia on May 9th, after it was previously postponed.

The decision to postpone came after the draw was initially scheduled to take place on April 11 in Riyadh, but regional circumstances and the war in the Middle East prompted the federation to reschedule the event.

The federation clarified that the purpose of the postponement is to ensure the attendance of all member federations and representatives of the General Assembly, thereby achieving full participation in this important continental event.

He confirmed that the draw ceremony will be held in the historic Al-Turaif district in Diriyah, a site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage, giving the event a distinctive character.

He pointed out that the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup will kick off on January 7 and continue until February 5 of the following year, with the participation of 24 teams from across the continent.

He pointed out that 23 teams have already secured qualification, while the last spot will be determined through a playoff between Lebanon and Yemen, scheduled for June 4th.

The statement concluded by confirming that the tournament will be held in the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar, with the teams distributed into six groups, each comprising four teams.