The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially announced the match schedule for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, reaffirming plans to stage the continental tournament in Saudi Arabia as originally scheduled.

The competition is set to run from January 7 to February 5, 2027, across three Saudi cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar.

Vietnam have been drawn into Group E alongside South Korea, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen, setting up a challenging group-stage campaign for coach Kim Sang Sik's side.

Vietnam to face UAE, South Korea and Yemen

Under the newly confirmed schedule, Vietnam will open their Asian Cup campaign against the UAE on January 11 before facing South Korea on January 15 and Yemen on January 20.

All three kickoff times are convenient for Vietnamese football fans following the national team's progress.

Vietnam's Asian Cup 2027 group-stage fixtures

The announcement allows participating teams to plan their preparations more effectively and indicates that tournament organizers are continuing with the original arrangements.

Speculation over possible postponement

The schedule was released amid concerns about the security situation in Saudi Arabia.

Some reports have suggested that the AFC could consider postponing the tournament until early 2028.

Another possibility reportedly discussed is relocating the competition to another country capable of hosting it, with the UAE, Qatar and China mentioned as potential alternatives.

However, these scenarios remain speculative, and the AFC's publication of the match schedule indicates that preparations are continuing for the tournament's planned January 2027 start.

Vietnam to host November friendly tournament

To help the national team prepare for the Asian Cup, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has arranged an international friendly tournament during the November FIFA international window.

The matches will take place at Thien Truong Stadium in Ninh Binh province, with Vietnam, Chinese Taipei and Kyrgyzstan participating.

According to the schedule confirmed by the VFF, Vietnam will face Chinese Taipei on November 11.

Chinese Taipei will then play Kyrgyzstan on November 13, before Vietnam conclude the tournament against Kyrgyzstan on November 15.

The two international friendlies will provide coach Kim Sang Sik with opportunities to assess his squad, experiment with tactical approaches and give players valuable match experience ahead of the continental competition.

With South Korea and the UAE among their Asian Cup opponents, Vietnam face a demanding challenge in Group E, making the November fixtures an important part of their preparations.

Dai Nam