The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed following a series of deadly attacks on the host country, the Asian Football Confederation has confirmed.
Asian Cup (Credits: BBC Sport)
The tournament was scheduled to take place from 7 January to 5 February, but has been rescheduled to run from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028 — a shift of nearly a full year in the football calendar.
In October, a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Riyadh’s airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, marking the deadliest escalation in a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia. The AFC said the decision to reschedule had been taken “in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions.”
Asian Cup Postponed: What Happens Next
The AFC added that the new dates of the tournament “will be presented to FIFA for approval” — meaning the December 2027 window is not yet fully locked in, though the confederation is moving decisively given the security situation.
A number of events in Saudi Arabia have already been cancelled, including the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition event scheduled for Riyadh. A Saudi minister has vowed a “serious response” to the Houthi attacks on airports.
The postponement also has ripple effects for European clubs. Aston Villa, for instance, will have goalkeeper Zion Suzuki more available this season because of the rescheduling of the Asian Cup, which would otherwise have pulled players away mid-season.
The decision underscores how the regional conflict is now directly reshaping international sport’s calendar — and with FIFA approval still pending, clubs and national associations will be watching for final confirmation of the new dates.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
