The draw for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup was held on May 9 local time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. China’s national team was placed in Group C, alongside Iran, Syria, and Kyrgyzstan.
Based on the FIFA rankings as of April 1, the participating teams were divided into four pots, with six teams in each pot. The 24 teams were allocated into six groups of four. China was in Pot Three for the draw.
After the draw, China’s head coach Shao Jiayi commented that Iran is an excellent team, and both Syria and Kyrgyzstan performed well in World Cup qualifiers and the previous Asian Cup. “There are no easy opponents. This group is full of challenges for us, but it also presents opportunities. We will work hard in our preparations, improve the team as much as possible over the coming period, and hope for a good result,” he said.
The 2027 Asian Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, featuring 24 teams. Under the competition rules, the top two from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16, followed by a single-elimination knockout stage until the champion is determined. Currently, 23 of the 24 berths have been confirmed, with the final spot to be decided between Lebanon and Yemen.
The full group draw results are as follows: Group A includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Palestine; Group B consists of Uzbekistan, Bahrain, North Korea, and Jordan; Group C is Iran, Syria, China, and Kyrgyzstan; Group D features Australia, Tajikistan, Iraq, and Singapore; Group E includes South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, and either Lebanon or Yemen; Group F comprises Japan, Qatar, Thailand, and Indonesia.