AFC reforms set Saudi Arabia 2027 Asian Cup as final odd-year edition

The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia will be the last edition staged in an odd-numbered year after the Asian Football Confederation approved changes to its statutes.

The reforms were passed unanimously at the AFC’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday. They include transitional arrangements intended to manage the next phase of governance within the organisation and align its electoral cycle with the changing international competition calendar.

The adjustments follow consultations with FIFA over changes it plans to make to the international schedule. Their purpose is to ensure the timing of AFC elections remains compatible with the dates of the confederation’s major tournaments.

Asian Cup to return to even-numbered years

The Asian Cup will move from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years from 2032, according to a statement published by the AFC on its official website.

Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 tournament, which will therefore be the final edition held in an odd-numbered year. The following edition will take place in 2032, although its host has not yet been decided.

The competition is returning to even-numbered years for the first time since 2004.

The revised statutes are designed to keep the AFC’s elections in step with the continental tournament. This will allow the executive body to continue overseeing the competition during its decisive stages while providing greater stability for administrative decisions and operational processes.

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said the approval marked an important step in strengthening the organisation’s governance and protecting transparency and continuity for the future of football in Asia.

Addressing the congress, Sheikh Salman said the decision would strengthen governance and ensure the regulations remained clear and fit for purpose. He added that the next phase required a focus on the collective interests of Asian football, alongside continued efforts to reinforce transparency, unity and inclusiveness.

Election timetable

Under the new arrangements, elections for the AFC’s principal leadership positions will be held in 2027 in accordance with the relevant provisions of the statutes.

However, those elected will not begin their terms immediately. Their mandates will start on 1 January 2028 and run until 2032.

The current officials, who were elected for the 2023-2027 term, will remain in office until the end of 2027 in accordance with the mandate granted to them.

The AFC said further details about the next elections would be announced in due course. The changes establish a new framework for coordinating the confederation’s election schedule with the most important national-team competition in Asia.