The Asian Cup, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in early 2027, has been postponed until December 2027, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on Tuesday. The 24-team tournament will now run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, subject to approval by FIFA.
The AFC said its organising committee approved the rescheduling in light of exceptional circumstances in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions. The tournament had been set for January 7 to February 5, 2027, with Riyadh due to host 30 of its 51 matches, including the final, across five of the eight planned stadiums.
The postponement follows a strike on Riyadh’s international airport last month that killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300, with Yemen’s Houthi movement claiming responsibility, and a series of drone and missile attacks on the kingdom in recent weeks. Other events have also been disrupted, including golf’s Saudi International and cycling’s Urban World Championships.
Sources: Reuters, The National. Written in our own words for information only.