The Local Organizing Committee for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, in conjunction with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), officially announced on Sunday the schedule and venues for the tournament’s sixth edition. The championship is set to be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to January 25, 2026, and will feature 16 of Asia’s top youth national teams.
The matches will be hosted across two cities, Riyadh and Jeddah, utilizing four world-class stadiums. The prestigious final and opening match will be held at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, which is scheduled to host a total of 10 matches. Its co-host venue in Jeddah, the King Abdullah Sports City Reserve Stadium, will also stage 10 games, including both semi-finals and the third-place play-off.
In the capital city of Riyadh, the group stage matches will be split between two venues. Six matches will be played at the Al-Shabab Club Stadium, while another six will be hosted at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City Stadium.
The draw ceremony to divide the 16 qualified teams into four groups will be held on Friday, October 3, at the AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The teams that have qualified for the tournament are:
1 Saudi Arabia (Hosts)
2 Jordan
3 Japan
4 Vietnam
5 Australia
6 Kyrgyzstan
7 Thailand
8 Iraq
9 South Korea
10 Syria
11 Lebanon
12 China
13 Uzbekistan
14 Qatar
15 Iran
16 United Arab Emirates
The 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup is a significant addition to a landmark year for Saudi Arabian football. The kingdom is also scheduled to host the elite AFC Champions League finals in April 2026 and the AFC U-17 Asian Cup in May 2026, cementing its position as a leading hub for major footballing events in Asia.
Saudi Arabia to Host 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Across Four Stadiums in Riyadh and Jeddah
