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AFC Asian Cup 2027: UAE Group, Schedule in UAE Time and How to Watch
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup takes place in Saudi Arabia from Thursday 7 January to Friday 5 February 2027, and the UAE has qualified. The UAE play in Group E with South Korea, Vietnam and Yemen. Saudi Arabia is one hour behind the UAE, so a 6:00 PM kickoff in Riyadh is 7:00 PM in Dubai. This page covers the groups, the UAE’s road through the tournament and how to watch every match at home, and we add the UAE’s match dates and kickoff times in UAE time as soon as the AFC publishes the full schedule.
AFC Asian Cup 2027 at a glance
| Dates | 7 January – 5 February 2027 |
| Host | Saudi Arabia |
| Teams | 24 teams in six groups of four |
| Host cities | Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar |
| UAE group | Group E: South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen |
| Time difference | Saudi Arabia is GMT+3, the UAE is GMT+4: add one hour to Saudi kickoff times |
All six groups
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Saudi Arabia (hosts), Kuwait, Oman, Palestine |
| B | Uzbekistan, Bahrain, North Korea, Jordan |
| C | Iran, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, China |
| D | Australia, Tajikistan, Iraq, Singapore |
| E | South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen |
| F | Japan, Qatar, Thailand, Indonesia |
The draw was held on 9 May 2026 in Diriyah. The tournament opens with Group A, including the hosts.
The UAE in Group E
The UAE qualified by winning their second-round group in March 2024. Group E pairs them with South Korea, one of Asia’s strongest sides, plus Vietnam and Yemen. With 24 teams, the top two in each group and the four best third-placed teams reach the round of 16, so every group match matters.
UAE match schedule in UAE time
The AFC has confirmed that Group E’s first matches are in January 2027. We publish the UAE’s three group dates, venues and kickoff times in UAE time here as soon as the official match schedule is released, and keep them updated through the knockout rounds. For this week’s football in UAE time, see our football fixtures page, updated daily.
Venues
- Riyadh: King Fahd Sports City Stadium, King Saud University Stadium, Kingdom Arena, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud University Stadium, Al Shabab Stadium
- Jeddah: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium
- Khobar: Aramco Stadium (new)
How to watch the Asian Cup at home in the UAE
UAE national team matches are among the most watched events in the country, which means home networks are at their busiest exactly when the match starts. Get ready before the tournament:
- Test your connection on the TV with our IPTV speed test: about 15 Mbps for HD, 25+ for 4K.
- Use a cable or the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network for the main TV.
- Fix problems in advance with our IPTV problem solver.
- Check which channel carries each match before kickoff, since broadcast rights are set by the AFC and its partners.
Our IPTV service works on e& and du without a VPN, and you can test it free for 24 hours on a real match. See sports on IPTV in the UAE and our free trial.
Cricket fan too? See the ILT20 2026-27 schedule in UAE time.
Watching today? See what’s on tonight in the UAE, updated every morning.
Club football too: the Champions League 2026-27 schedule in UAE time.
Test our service free for 24 hours on e& or du, no VPN and no card. If you like it, plans start at €7.95 a month, or €4.28 a month on the 14-month plan.
Frequently asked questions
When is the AFC Asian Cup 2027?
From 7 January to 5 February 2027 in Saudi Arabia.
Has the UAE qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup?
Yes. The UAE qualified as Group H winners in the second round in March 2024.
Which group is the UAE in?
Group E, with South Korea, Vietnam and Yemen.
What time are Asian Cup matches in the UAE?
Add one hour to the local Saudi kickoff time. A 6:00 PM match in Riyadh starts at 7:00 PM in the UAE.
Where is the Asian Cup 2027 being played?
In Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar in Saudi Arabia.