The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed the Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia to December 2027 to January 2028, citing regional conflict and travel disruption. The new dates still need approval from FIFA.
According to Al Jazeera, the 24-team tournament will now run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, instead of starting on January 7, 2027. BBC World reported that the tournament was originally scheduled for January 7 to February 5.
The AFC cited "exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions" as the reason for the change, according to BBC World. The AFC said the postponement was made in consultation with the Local Organising Committee and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
Al Jazeera reports that Saudi Arabia has been repeatedly attacked by Yemen’s Houthis since September, with Riyadh among the cities hit by missiles. BBC World reports that a Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s airport in October killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. Al Jazeera also reports that the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi drone launched toward the Mecca region.
Several participating nations had voiced security concerns, Al Jazeera reports. BBC World reports that the Asian Tour has indefinitely postponed its season-ending golf tournament, and the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition in Riyadh has been cancelled.
This is the second successive Asian Cup to be postponed. According to BBC World, the 2023 tournament was moved to 2024, and moved from China to Qatar, because of Covid.
The AFC will submit the new dates to FIFA for approval, and the sources give no timeline for that decision. BBC World also reports that Premier League clubs with Japanese and other players are no longer expected to lose them for part of this season.
The sources have gaps. None includes a response from the Saudi government, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation or the Houthis. A BBC headline linking to a Saudi minister’s vow of a "serious response" to the Houthi airport attacks was not available as article text. The Japan Times was available only as a headline and short excerpt, so its details could not be checked beyond the dates. The sources also do not clarify whether the October airport attack and the attacks since September are separate incidents. The airport casualty figures and the Asian Tour details rest on BBC World alone.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.