Kuala Lumpur, Nov 11:
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed the next edition of the men’s AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia by nearly a year due to escalating military conflict across the Middle East and cross-border missile strikes.
Originally scheduled to kick off on January 7, 2027, across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar, the continental showpiece has been rescheduled to run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, subject to formal approval from FIFA. The AFC announced that the deferral followed detailed consultations with Saudi organisers, citing “current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions.”
The decision comes amid regional flight cancellations and security alerts following Houthi drone and missile strikes targeting critical installations in Saudi Arabia. The conflict has already disrupted continental club football fixtures, including AFC Champions League Elite games involving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, and prompted the relocation of the WTA Finals tennis tournament from Riyadh to California.