The draw for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup was held on May 9 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. China’s men’s national team was placed in Group C, alongside Iran, Syria, and Kyrgyzstan. China entered the draw as a third-tier team.
Based on the latest FIFA rankings as of April 1, the participating teams were divided into four pots, each containing six teams. The group stage consists of six groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 16, followed by a knockout stage to determine the champion. Currently, 23 of the 24 spots have been confirmed, with the final spot to be decided between Lebanon and Yemen.
The 2027 Asian Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5 next year.
The full group draw results are as follows:
Group A: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Palestine
Group B: Uzbekistan, Bahrain, North Korea, Jordan
Group C: Iran, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, China
Group D: Australia, Tajikistan, Iraq, Singapore
Group E: South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Lebanon/Yemen
Group F: Japan, Qatar, Thailand, Indonesia