The 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed after a series of deadly attacks on the host country, the Asian Football Confederation said.
The 24-team tournament, scheduled for January 7 to February 5, 2027, will now run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028. The new dates still need FIFA approval.
The AFC cited “the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions,” the BBC reported.
In October, a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Riyadh’s airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. Several other events in Saudi Arabia have been cancelled or postponed, and the Saudi Pro League has postponed this week’s round of fixtures.
It is the second Asian Cup in a row to be moved, after the 2023 tournament was shifted to Qatar and pushed into 2024 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
—
