Tournament organisers released the kickoff times and finalised schedule on Monday for the 2027 tournament, in another move aimed at assuring continental soccer federations that planning was on track despite deadly recent attacks in Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The tournament is set to kick-off on January 7 with Saudi Arabia against the Palestinian team in Group A in Riyadh.
Organising committee spokesman Muhammed Alghamdi told members at an AFC meeting in Tokyo last week that "daily life is ongoing in Saudi Arabia," despite the regional hostilities and added: "Our job is to be ready, and we will be ready."
The kick-off times and locations of matches in all six groups were confirmed on Monday for the month-long tournament that is scheduled to feature 24 teams playing matches in eight venues across three cites — Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar.
Iran is in Group C with Syria, China and Kyrgyzstan. The Iranian team is scheduled to open against China on January 9 at the 26,000-seat Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Australia opens its Group D campaign against Singapore earlier the same day in Khobar, before playing Iraq - coached by Australia's Graham Arnold - five days later. The Socceroos' final group game comes against Tajikistan on January 19.
The final is set for Friday, February 5 at the 72,000-seat King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh.
"The allocation of all venues and kick-off times in this finalised schedule factors in key commercial and broadcast requirements, as well as the local arrangements put in place to drive spectator attendance and enhance fan experience," the AFC said in a statement.
Amid the heightened tensions and attacks, disruptions have hit the continental club championship and some scheduled international events have been cancelled.
An AFC Champions League game between Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana was delayed on October 12 after Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence issued a security alert.
Nassr's home ACL game scheduled for Monday against Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates was postponed.
Among other sports events that have been moved or cancelled is the WTA Finals, the season-ending event in women's tennis, which was moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells, California.
A BMX cycling qualifying event in Saudi Arabia for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics was also cancelled by the International Cycling Union.
