AFC Postpones 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia to December 2027-January 2028

The Asian Football Confederation postponed the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The 24-team tournament, originally scheduled to begin on January 7, 2027, and run until February 5, will now take place from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028.

The AFC organising committee approved the change after extensive discussions with the Local Organising Committee and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. It cited exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions. The new dates will be submitted to FIFA for approval.

The decision follows a series of attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement. A strike on Riyadh’s international airport last month killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300, the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade. Attacks have continued, with the Houthis saying on Monday they launched drones toward Dammam airport. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen reported intercepting a drone launched toward the Mecca region on Friday.

Saudi Arabia has faced repeated missile and drone strikes since September. The capital and other cities have been targeted. Other national teams that were scheduled to play friendlies in Saudi Arabia during the November international window have relocated those matches. There was limited appetite among other countries to step in as host at short notice for a tournament originally set to start in early January.

The proposed new window falls during one of the busiest periods in the European club calendar, overlapping with the Christmas and New Year break. FIFA must still approve the revised dates. The AFC statement emphasised that the tournament will remain in Saudi Arabia rather than move to another host.

Security concerns had circulated for weeks after the Riyadh airport attack. The AFC’s formal announcement on Tuesday confirmed the 11-month delay and the precise new window. Organisers will now work on revised logistics, ticketing and broadcast arrangements for the December 2027 start.

The Asian Cup is the continent’s premier national-team competition. The postponement affects qualification pathways, player availability and commercial planning for participating federations. No alternative host has been publicly discussed as a contingency.