RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Four-time winner Japan was grouped with defending champion Qatar at the 2027 Asian Cup in the draw on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia will host the 24-team tournament for the first time from Jan. 7-Feb. 5.
kAm%96 pD:2? u@@E32== r@?7656C2E:@? H:== 36 9@A:?8 E96 4@>A6E:E:@? H:== 36 96=5 H:E9@FE 2?J 7FCE96C 4@>A=:42E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%96 5C2H H2D @C:8:?2==J D6E 7@C pAC:= “ 3FE H2D A@DEA@?65 3642FD6 @7 E96 4@?7=:4E 😕 E96 |:55=6 t2DE] %96 7:?2= 7:6=5 😀 DE:== :?4@>A=6E6 3642FD6 E96 {632?@?\*6>6? >2E49 H2D ?@E A=2J65 2D D4965F=65 @? |2C49 b` 2?5 92D 366? A@DEA@?65 E@ yF?6]k^Am
kAmpD H6== 2D “2E2C[ E96 492>A:@? 😕 a_`h 2?5 a_ab[ y2A2? H:== E2<6 @? x?5@?6D:2 2?5 %92:=2?5 😕 vC@FA u]k^Am
kAm“y2A2? 😀 @?6 @7 E96 =6256CD 😕 pD:2? 7@@E32==[ 2=H2JD[” “2E2C 4@249 yF=6? {@A6E68F: D2:5] “%96J 92G6 BF2=:EJ A=2J6CD 2?5 H6 92G6 E@ 36=:6G6 😕 @FCD6=G6D]”k^Am
kAm$2F5: pC23:2[ H9:49 H:== 2=D@ DE286 E96 a_bc (@C=5 rFA[ H:== 7246 zFH2:E[ ~>2? 2?5 E96 !2=6DE:?:2? E62> 😕 2? 2==\(6DE pD:2 8C@FA 2D :E D666 D:?46 `hhe]k^Am
kAmQ(96? H6 C6249 E96 pD:2? rFA 😕 @FC 4@F?ECJ[ H6 H:== 36 C625J E@ C6249 E96 7:?2= 2?5 E@ H:? E96 E:E=6[” D2:5 $2F5: pC23:2 4@249 v:@C8:@D s@?:D[ H9@ H2D 2AA@:?E65 😕 pAC:= E@ C6A=246 w6CG6 #6?2C5]k^Am
kAm&K36<:DE2? 2?5 y@C52? 2C6 AC6A2C:?8 7@C E96:C 7:CDE (@C=5 rFA 2AA62C2?46D 😕 yF?6[ 2?5 H6C6 5C2H? 😕 pD:2? rFA vC@FA q 2=@?8 H:E9 }@CE9 z@C62 2?5 q29C2:?]k^Am
kAmxC2? H:== 7246 $JC:2 2?5 r9:?2]k^Am
kAmx? vC@FA s[ pFDEC2=:2 H2D 5C2H? H:E9 2?@E96C 7@C>6C 492>A:@? 😕 xC2B[ =65 3J 7@C>6C $@446C@@D 4@249 vC292> pC?@=5[ 2D H6== 2D %2;:<:DE2? 2?5 $:?82A@C6[ H9:49 92D BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 E@FC?2>6?E 7@C E96 G6CJ 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 `hgc]k^Am
kAm$@FE9 z@C62 92D ?@E H@? E96 E@FC?2>6?E D:?46 `he_ 2?5 H:== >66E E96 &?:E65 pC23 t>:C2E6D[ ‘:6E?2> 2?5 E96 H:??6C @7 E96 {632?@?\*6>6? >2E49]k^Am
kAm%96 E@A EH@ 7C@> 6249 @7 E96 D:I 8C@FAD @7 7@FC H:== AC@8C6DD E@ E96 C@F?5 @7 `e 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 7@FC 36DE E9:C5\A=2465 E62>D]k^Am
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.