Saudi Arabia's Asian Cup Pushed Back to December 2027 Amid Attacks

The Asian Football Confederation has postponed the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, moving the 24-team tournament to a new window that opens on Dec. 23, 2027, and ends on Jan. 21, 2028. The governing body announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday, citing the security situation in the region.

According to Al Jazeera, the tournament was due to begin in Riyadh on Jan. 7, 2027. The AFC said the change was agreed after extensive discussions with the local organizing committee and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, and that the new dates will be submitted to FIFA for approval.

The key numbers behind the postponement

• 24 teams: That is the size of the field for the continental championship, which Al Jazeera and the BBC both described as being rescheduled rather than cancelled.
• Jan. 7 to Feb. 5: The BBC reported that this was the original schedule for the tournament.
• Dec. 23, 2027, to Jan. 21, 2028: The new dates announced by the AFC, subject to FIFA approval.
• 13 killed, more than 300 wounded: The BBC reported that a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi movement on Riyadh's airport in October caused these casualties.
• Nov. 18-21: The BBC said the Asian Tour has postponed its season-ending golf tournament, which had been scheduled for these dates, indefinitely.

What is behind the decision

The AFC said its organizing committee approved the move in light of “exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region.” The statement pointed to substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions. The confederation said the postponement was necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders.

Al Jazeera reported that Saudi Arabia has come under repeated attack from Yemen's Houthis since September, with Riyadh among the cities hit by missiles. The outlet said the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported on Friday that it had intercepted and destroyed a drone launched by the Houthis toward the Mecca region. It also reported that a missile aimed at western Saudi Arabia was brought down earlier, as hostilities between the Yemeni government backed by Riyadh and the Iran-backed Houthis continue to escalate.

The tournament's future was uncertain in recent weeks, according to Al Jazeera, with several participating nations voicing concerns about security.

Why it matters

For players, fans and teams, the decision removes the prospect of traveling to a country that has faced missile and drone attacks, and it gives organizers a longer runway to prepare. The AFC has not disclosed what additional measures might be needed before the new dates.

The BBC noted that the move also affects club football elsewhere. Several Asian internationals play in the Premier League, and the original January date would have pulled them away from their clubs in the middle of the season. The BBC listed Japan's Zion Suzuki of Aston Villa, Wataru Endo of Liverpool and Daizen Maeda of Ipswich Town among players who would have been expected to be called up. It also named Leeds United's Ao Tanaka, Crystal Palace's Takehiro Tomiyasu and Daichi Kamada, and Hull City's Hidemasa Morita, all of whom play for Japan.

The BBC said Japan would have been one of the favorites, and that Aston Villa, who are in the Champions League, might have had to do without Suzuki for at least seven games if his country had reached the final. Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma, currently injured but expected back later this year, would also likely have been selected by Japan, the BBC reported. It added that Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov of Uzbekistan and Hull City's Lucas Herrington of Australia would have expected call-ups as well.

Other events in Saudi Arabia have also been affected. The BBC reported that the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition, which was scheduled for Riyadh, was among those cancelled.

A second postponement in a row

The BBC noted that this is the second successive Asian Cup to be postponed. The 2023 edition was moved to 2024 and relocated to Qatar from China because of the Covid pandemic.

What happens next

The AFC will present the new dates to FIFA for approval. Until that process is complete, the December 2027 start remains a proposal from Asian football's governing body.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Al Jazeera, BBC News