Asian Cup 2027 kickoff times set: Vietnam play UAE, South Korea, Yemen at 17:30 or 20:30

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has published kickoff times for the 2027 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia, Thanh Niên, Dân trí and Bongda24h reported on 21 October. Vietnam will play all three Group E games at 17:30 or 20:30 Vietnam time, starting against the United Arab Emirates at 20:30 on 11 January 2027. The schedule comes after the AFC, according to The Chosun Ilbo, confirmed Saudi Arabia as host, although Korean and Japanese media say the final call on whether to keep the dates or postpone will only be made in November.

Vietnam's group games

Dates and Vietnam times match across Thanh Niên, Tuổi Trẻ, Dân trí, SGGP and Bongda24h; local times are from SGGP. Tuổi Trẻ cites the Saudi paper NABD, while Thanh Niên, quoting The Chosun Ilbo, says Saudi broadcaster Al Ekhbariya announced the AFC-approved slots.

According to Thanh Niên, the tournament runs from 7 January to 5 February 2027 in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar. The 24 teams are split into six groups of four, with the top two in each group and the four best third-placed sides reaching the round of 16. Group games are played at 17:30, 20:30, 23:30 and midnight Vietnam time. The opener between Saudi Arabia and Palestine kicks off at 00:00 on 8 January Vietnam time (20:00 on 7 January locally) at King Fahd Sports City in Riyadh, and the final starts at 00:00 on 6 February Vietnam time. The full knockout schedule is published by the AFC. In Group F, Thailand and Indonesia face each other at 17:30 on 20 January, the same day Vietnam play Yemen.

What it means for fans in Vietnam

For viewers at home, these are familiar slots. SGGP notes they resemble typical V-League kickoff times, and Bongda24h says avoiding early-morning matches makes it easier for fans to watch. SGGP adds that afternoon games in Saudi Arabia mean the players will have to manage the heat. On broadcasting, Thanh Niên reports that the Viettel group has bought the media rights in Vietnam and that the whole tournament, not only Vietnam's games, will be shown on its TV360 platforms. Kim Sang-sik's target is to get out of the group, SGGP says, after Vietnam went out at the group stage in 2024 under Philippe Troussier; Thanh Niên recalls the 2019 run to the quarter-finals.

The AFC has not closed the door

Doubts grew after Houthi forces attacked King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh in early October, Tuổi Trẻ and Thanh Niên report. Citing The Chosun Ilbo, Thanh Niên says a special AFC Executive Committee meeting in Tokyo on 20 October kept Saudi Arabia as host because there was not enough time to prepare an alternative. But a postponement has not been entirely ruled out: the committee is expected to decide at a meeting in Bangkok in November, around the AFC Awards on 19 November, and Dân trí, citing Japan's Sponichi, also points to a November ruling in Bangkok. AFC president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa told France 24: "We will wait until the end of November. Preparations for the tournament are still on schedule." We reported on 20 October that no postponement decision had been made.

Key dates

• 11 and 15 November: friendlies against Chinese Taipei and Kyrgyzstan, according to Dân trí.
• November: AFC Executive Committee meeting in Bangkok, after the AFC Awards on 19 November.
• 8 January 2027, 00:00: opening match, Saudi Arabia v Palestine.
• 11, 15 and 20 January 2027: Vietnam's group games.
• 6 February 2027, 00:00: final.

What comes next

Vietnam regroup for the November international window and the two friendlies, then plan a training camp and a friendly against Qatar before the tournament, according to Dân trí and SGGP. The AFC's Bangkok decision will confirm whether the newly published schedule stands. Follow the build-up on our Vietnam national team page.