AFC unveils packed 2026-27 calendar for Asian football
The Asian Football Confederation has released its full schedule for the 2026-27 season, detailing dates for the AFC Asian Cup, revamped club competitions
The Asian Football Confederation has published its official calendar for the 2026-27 season. The schedule outlines a busy period featuring the AFC Asian Cup, multiple club competitions, and various youth and women's tournaments.
A key highlight is the AFC Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, 2027. The tournament will feature 24 nations competing for the continental title, with Qatar aiming to defend its championship.
Club Competitions Take Center Stage
The season's club football structure will see action across three tiers: the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and the AFC Challenge League. The group stages for the top two club competitions begin in September 2026, with their knockout phases running through to May 2027.
The final for the AFC Champions League Two is set for May 15, 2027, while the AFC Champions League Elite will conclude with its final between April 23 and May 1, 2027. The AFC Challenge League final is scheduled for May 8, 2027.
Key International and Youth Events
Several major international tournaments are woven into the calendar. The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games football tournament runs from September 14 to October 3, 2026. FIFA's youth World Cups are also prominent, including the U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco and the U-17 World Cup in Qatar during late 2026.
The schedule also includes qualification pathways for future events. Draws for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and 2031 AFC Asian Cup first round are set for December 15, 2026, with matches beginning in March 2027.
Detailed Calendar of Events
The AFC's released calendar provides specific dates for dozens of events. The following table lists a selection of key tournaments and their scheduled periods.
| Event | Scheduled Period |
|---|---|
| AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 | 7 Jan - 5 Feb 2027 |
| AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 Finals | 24 Mar - 10 Apr 2027 |
| AFC U17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Finals | 12 - 29 May 2027 |
| AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 | 31 Mar - 17 Apr 2027 |
| AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup Thailand 2026 Finals | 18 - 28 Nov 2026 |
| Women's Olympic Football Tournament 2028 Asian Qualifiers | Begins 19 Apr 2027 |
Women's Football and Preliminary Rounds
Women's football features with the AFC Women's Champions League group stage in November 2026 and its final in late May 2027. The FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, while not an AFC event, is noted on the calendar from June 24 to July 25, 2027.
The 2027-28 club season will begin with preliminary rounds in late July 2027 for the AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Champions League Two, and AFC Challenge League. The AFC notes that the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 final and the FIFA U-15 World Cup final have venues still to be confirmed.
