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Saudi Arabia’s Asian Cup moved to December 2027 after deadly attacks
The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been rescheduled following deadly attacks and disruption in the region. The change moves the tournament across the year boundary and is expected to affect clubs whose players would otherwise have been absent during the original dates.
The competition was due to run from 7 January to 5 February 2027, but will now take place from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028. The Asian Football Confederation cited exceptional regional circumstances, logistical difficulties and travel disruption, and said the revised dates need Fifa approval. A missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Riyadh airport in October killed 13 people and injured more than 300.
In short
- The 2027 Asian Cup has been moved to December 2027 and January 2028.
- The AFC cited regional disruption and logistical difficulties.
- Fifa approval for the new dates is still required.
Explained simply
The Asian Cup is the main international football tournament for men’s national teams in Asia, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Teams qualify to represent their countries, and the tournament is usually held every four years.
Saudi Arabia is hosting the 2027 edition. The AFC oversees the competition and has said the revised dates require approval from Fifa, football’s global governing body. The change affects national teams and the clubs that employ their players, which may need to adjust their plans for the winter period.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Asian Cup postponed in wake of attacks on Saudi Arabia”.