Asian Cup 2027 Group A is set to be one of the most closely watched groups at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. Hosts Saudi Arabia will headline the group alongside Kuwait, Oman and Palestine, creating an all-West Asian contest with plenty of regional rivalry and experience. The AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 will take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027, with 24 national teams competing for the continental title. The tournament will be played across Saudi Arabia, with matches scheduled in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
Group A is particularly interesting because Saudi Arabia will enter the tournament as the host nation, while Oman, Palestine and Kuwait will all be looking to challenge for qualification to the knockout stage.
Asian Cup 2027 Group A Teams
The four teams in Group A are:
| Position | Team | FIFA/AFC code |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | KSA |
| A2 | 🇰🇼 Kuwait | KUW |
| A3 | 🇴🇲 Oman | OMA |
| A4 | 🇵🇸 Palestine | PLE |
The Group A lineup was confirmed following the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Final Draw in Diriyah in May 2026.
With Saudi Arabia hosting the tournament, Group A will also provide one of the first opportunities for the home supporters to see their national team compete in the 2027 Asian Cup.
Asian Cup 2027 Group A Fixtures
The official AFC match schedule includes three group-stage matches for every team.
Matchday 1
Saudi Arabia vs Palestine
Date: Thursday, January 7, 2027
Venue: King Fahd Sports City Stadium, Riyadh
This match will be the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
The hosts will begin their campaign against Palestine, making the fixture one of the most anticipated matches of the opening day.
Matchday 1 – Second Match
Kuwait vs Oman
Date: Friday, January 8, 2027
Venue: King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh
The Kuwait-Oman meeting will complete the first round of Group A matches.
Matchday 2
Oman vs Saudi Arabia
Date: Monday, January 11, 2027
Venue: King Fahd Sports City Stadium, Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s second Group A fixture will be against Oman.
The match could become extremely important for the group standings because both teams will be expected to compete for qualification to the knockout stage.
Palestine vs Kuwait
Date: Monday, January 11, 2027
Venue: Aramco Stadium, Al Khobar
Palestine and Kuwait will meet in the other Group A fixture on Matchday 2.
Matchday 3
Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait
Date: Monday, January 18, 2027
Venue: King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah
The hosts will finish their group campaign against Kuwait.
This could be a crucial match if the Group A qualification race remains undecided going into the final matchday.
Palestine vs Oman
Date: Monday, January 18, 2027
Venue: King Saud University Stadium, Riyadh
Palestine and Oman will play the final Group A match at the same time as Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait.
The AFC’s published match schedule confirms the Group A fixture sequence and venues. Kickoff times remain subject to final confirmation in the official schedule.
Asian Cup 2027 Group A Schedule
Here is the complete Group A schedule currently published by the AFC:
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2027 | Saudi Arabia vs Palestine | King Fahd Sports City Stadium |
| Jan 8, 2027 | Kuwait vs Oman | King Saud University Stadium |
| Jan 11, 2027 | Oman vs Saudi Arabia | King Fahd Sports City Stadium |
| Jan 11, 2027 | Palestine vs Kuwait | Aramco Stadium |
| Jan 18, 2027 | Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium |
| Jan 18, 2027 | Palestine vs Oman | King Saud University Stadium |
The tournament schedule confirms that the Group A matches will be spread across Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
Saudi Arabia in Group A
Saudi Arabia will be the biggest attraction in Group A.
As hosts, the Green Falcons will have home support behind them throughout the tournament. Saudi Arabia also secured qualification automatically as the host and will be attempting to win the Asian Cup on home soil.
The AFC has highlighted Saudi Arabia as one of the teams aiming for the title, with attacker Salem Al Dawsari among the players to watch. The AFC described the upcoming tournament as a possible fourth Asian Cup appearance for Al Dawsari and noted his ambition to help the hosts win the trophy.
Saudi Arabia Group A Matches
- Saudi Arabia vs Palestine
- Oman vs Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait
The opening match against Palestine will have additional significance because it will officially begin the 2027 tournament.
Saudi Arabia’s Group A Objective
Saudi Arabia’s primary target should be to finish at the top of Group A.
Playing at home provides an important advantage, but the team cannot afford to underestimate Oman, Kuwait or Palestine.
A strong opening result would immediately put the hosts in a favourable position.
Oman in Group A
Oman are another experienced Gulf side in Group A.
The team has regularly competed at the AFC Asian Cup and will enter Saudi Arabia 2027 hoping to progress beyond the group stage.
The Oman squad has players familiar with high-level international football, and Issam Sabhi has been identified by the AFC as one of the players to watch.
Oman Group A Matches
- Kuwait vs Oman
- Oman vs Saudi Arabia
- Palestine vs Oman
The match against Saudi Arabia could be particularly important.
If Oman can collect points against the hosts, its chances of finishing in one of the qualification positions could increase significantly.
Kuwait in Group A
Kuwait returns to the Asian Cup stage with a place in Group A alongside three other West Asian teams.
The Blue Wave have a long history in Asian football and won the AFC Asian Cup in 1980.
Their Group A campaign begins against Oman before matches against Palestine and Saudi Arabia.
Kuwait Group A Matches
- Kuwait vs Oman
- Palestine vs Kuwait
- Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait
Kuwait’s opening game against Oman could be especially important because both teams will want to begin the tournament with points.
Palestine in Group A
Palestine will face a challenging opening fixture against the hosts.
The Palestinian national team has continued to make progress on the Asian international stage and will be looking to build on its recent tournament experience.
The AFC has identified Oday Dabbagh as a player to watch for Palestine. The forward was an important part of Palestine’s historic AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 campaign and is expected to remain an important attacking player.
Palestine Group A Matches
- Saudi Arabia vs Palestine
- Palestine vs Kuwait
- Palestine vs Oman
The opening game against Saudi Arabia could be one of the biggest challenges of the group.
Asian Cup 2027 Group A Standings
The Group A table will contain the usual tournament statistics:
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Kuwait | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Oman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Palestine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
P = Played, W = Wins, D = Draws, L = Losses, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, GD = Goal Difference, Pts = Points
This is the pre-tournament table. It will be updated after each Group A match during the competition.
How Qualification From Group A Works
The AFC Asian Cup features six groups containing four teams each.
At the end of the group stage:
- The top two teams from each group qualify for the Round of 16.
- The four best third-placed teams across Groups A-F also advance.
- The remaining teams are eliminated.
This means finishing third does not necessarily end a team’s tournament.
For Group A, that creates an additional layer of competition because a team that finishes third could still qualify depending on its points, goal difference and other relevant ranking criteria compared with third-placed teams from Groups B-F.
Who Are the Favourites in Group A?
On paper, Saudi Arabia should be regarded as the leading contender to win Group A.
The hosts will have home advantage and will be surrounded by supporters throughout their campaign.
However, Oman should not be overlooked.
Group A contenders
1. Saudi Arabia
The hosts are the natural favourites and will have the pressure of expectations.
2. Oman
Oman have enough international experience to challenge for the top two.
3. Palestine
Palestine have shown significant improvement and can cause problems for any opponent.
4. Kuwait
Kuwait have historic pedigree and will be looking to produce a competitive return to the Asian Cup.
That ranking is an assessment rather than an official AFC prediction.
Key Players to Watch in Group A
Salem Al Dawsari – Saudi Arabia
Salem Al Dawsari is likely to be one of the biggest names in the group.
The Saudi winger has extensive international experience and has already played in several major tournaments.
The AFC recently highlighted him as a key player for Saudi Arabia ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup.
Issam Sabhi – Oman
Oman’s Issam Sabhi is another player worth following.
The AFC noted that the upcoming tournament will give Sabhi another opportunity to make his mark after his first Asian Cup appearance at Qatar 2023.
Oday Dabbagh – Palestine
Oday Dabbagh will be central to Palestine’s attacking ambitions.
His ability to score and create attacking opportunities could be particularly important against Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman.
Mohammad Daham – Kuwait
Mohammad Daham has emerged as an influential attacking player for Kuwait.
The AFC describes him as a versatile attacking player capable of operating in different positions across the attacking line.
Group A Stadiums
Group A matches will be played at several major Saudi Arabian venues.
King Fahd Sports City Stadium
The stadium in Riyadh is scheduled to host the opening match between Saudi Arabia and Palestine, as well as Saudi Arabia’s second Group A match against Oman.
The official AFC schedule lists the venue with a capacity of approximately 72,000.
King Saud University Stadium
This Riyadh venue will host Kuwait vs Oman and Palestine vs Oman.
The official schedule lists a capacity of around 26,000.
Aramco Stadium
Located in Al Khobar, Aramco Stadium is scheduled to host Palestine vs Kuwait.
King Abdullah Sports City Stadium
The Jeddah venue will host Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait in the final round of Group A matches.
The stadium is listed by the AFC schedule with a capacity of approximately 60,000.
Asian Cup 2027 Group A Prediction
Group A could become a closely contested battle behind the hosts.
Predicted Group A finish
| Predicted position | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabia |
| 2 | Oman |
| 3 | Palestine |
| 4 | Kuwait |
Prediction only: This is an editorial assessment and not an official AFC ranking.
Saudi Arabia’s home advantage makes them the logical choice for first place. Oman could be the strongest challenger, while Palestine have the potential to make the qualification race difficult for both Oman and Kuwait.
The final positions, of course, will be determined on the pitch.
Asian Cup 2027 Group A Live Scores and Results
Once the tournament begins, fans will be able to follow every Group A fixture through live scores and results.
Important Group A search terms are expected to include:
- Asian Cup 2027 Group A live score
- Saudi Arabia vs Palestine live score
- Kuwait vs Oman live score
- Oman vs Saudi Arabia live
- Palestine vs Kuwait result
- Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait result
- Group A Asian Cup standings
- Asian Cup Group A table
- Asian Cup 2027 results
For your website, each match should ideally have its own dedicated match page containing the preview, lineups, live score, goals, cards, substitutions, statistics and post-match analysis.
Asian Cup 2027 Group A Live Streaming
Fans searching for Asian Cup 2027 Group A live streaming should use official broadcasters and authorized streaming platforms available in their country.
Broadcast rights can differ by territory, so the channel showing a Group A match in Saudi Arabia may not be the same broadcaster available in India, the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia or another country.
For each Group A match, viewers should check:
- Official AFC broadcast announcements
- Local television listings
- Authorized streaming services
- Official broadcaster websites and apps
Avoid unofficial or pirated streams because they can be unreliable and may violate copyright laws.
Asian Cup 2027 Group A FAQs
Which teams are in Asian Cup 2027 Group A?
Group A consists of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Palestine.
Who is the favourite to win Group A?
Saudi Arabia are the natural favourites because they are the hosts and will have home support. Oman are likely to be one of their main challengers.
When does Group A start?
Group A begins on January 7, 2027, when Saudi Arabia face Palestine in the tournament’s opening match.
Who plays in the opening match of Asian Cup 2027?
Saudi Arabia vs Palestine is the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
Where will Group A matches be played?
Group A matches are scheduled across venues in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
How many teams qualify from Group A?
The top two teams automatically advance to the Round of 16. A third-placed team can also advance if it ranks among the four best third-placed teams across all six groups.
When does Group A finish?
The final Group A matches are scheduled for January 18, 2027.
Where can I watch Asian Cup 2027 Group A matches?
Available TV channels and streaming services depend on your country. Fans should use the official broadcaster for their territory and check the latest AFC media-rights announcements.
Who is the key player for Saudi Arabia?
Salem Al Dawsari is one of Saudi Arabia’s leading players and has been highlighted by the AFC ahead of the tournament.
Who is Palestine’s key player?
Oday Dabbagh is one of Palestine’s main attacking players and has been highlighted by the AFC as a player to watch.
Final Thoughts on Asian Cup 2027 Group A
Asian Cup 2027 Group A brings together four West Asian teams: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Palestine.
The group has an especially interesting storyline because Saudi Arabia will host the tournament, beginning its campaign against Palestine on January 7, 2027.
Oman could provide the strongest challenge to the hosts, while Palestine and Kuwait have the opportunity to disrupt the expected order.
With six matches spread across Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, Group A should provide plenty of important moments before the Round of 16 begins.
As the tournament approaches, this page can be updated with confirmed kickoff times, live streaming information, TV channels, squads, lineups, results, standings, goal scorers and qualification scenarios.
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