The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced new dates for the tournament. The competition will be held from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028.
Advantages of the additional time
Kyrgyzstan Football Union General Secretary Mederbek Sydykov noted that the new schedule will allow the team to better prepare for their first match at the Bishkek Arena stadium. According to him, due to weather conditions, it was not possible to restore the arena's pitch in time for the FIFA international dates in March, so the stadium's opening is planned for June 2027.
"The rescheduling of the Asian Cup will allow our team to prepare high-quality for the first football match at the Bishkek Arena stadium."
Kyrgyzstan national team head coach Urmat Abdukaimov, a former forward, emphasized that he sees more pros than cons in the AFC's decision. According to the specialist, time is a vital resource for the coaching staff.
"It allows us to prepare even more thoroughly for such an important tournament. We will strive to use this time as effectively as possible and be fully ready for the start of the competition."
Context
The decision on the new tournament dates was announced by Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa. The AFC was founded in 1954 and is based in Kuala Lumpur.
