The Asian Football Confederation has postponed the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia from January to December 2027 following security concerns and travel disruptions linked to developments in the region.
The continental football governing body announced the decision on Tuesday, citing “exceptional circumstances” that have affected preparations for the tournament.
According to the AFC, its organising committee approved the rescheduling after considering the situation in the region, alongside “substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions”.
“The organising committee for AFC Asian Cup approved rescheduling the flagship national team tournament in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region,” the confederation said in a statement.
The tournament, initially scheduled for January 7 to February 5, 2027, will now hold from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, subject to approval by FIFA.
The decision followed recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, which have also led to the cancellation or postponement of several major sporting events in the country.
Saudi Arabia had previously maintained that preparations for the competition were progressing as planned despite growing uncertainty over its hosting arrangements.
The AFC said the postponement became necessary after “extensive discussions and close consultation” with Saudi officials.
“Exceptional circumstances have been created for the organisation and delivery of the competition as originally scheduled, making the postponement necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders,” it added.
The tournament will be hosted across three Saudi cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
The AFC said the revised dates would be submitted to FIFA for approval.
