Asian Cup 2027 postponed due to attacks in Saudi Arabia
The tournament has been rescheduled to run from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028 following regional unrest.
The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed following a series of deadly attacks in the host country, according to reports by BBC News and Sportstar. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place from 7 January to 5 February.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) stated that the decision to reschedule was made in light of exceptional circumstances arising from regional developments, including travel disruptions and substantial logistical complexities. The new dates for the tournament are 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028, which will be presented to Fifa for approval.
The rescheduling follows a missile attack in October by Yemen's Houthi movement on Riyadh's airport, which killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. The Houthis are fighting a Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government in a civil war that reignited in July.
Several other sporting events have been impacted by the unrest in the Gulf region. The 2027 Dakar Rally was moved to Portugal and Morocco last month, while the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition was postponed from October to December. The WTA Finals, originally scheduled for Riyadh, will now be held at Indian Wells in the United States.
Other affected events include the cancelled Urban World Championships and the indefinite postponement of the Saudi International golf tournament and the FIFAe Finals 2026 video game competition in Jeddah. Asian Champions League games and some rounds of the Saudi Pro League could also face postponements.
