Asian football’s governing body postponed the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia by almost a year on Tuesday, moving Asia’s flagship national team tournament from January to December 2027 amid exceptional circumstances in the region.
Delay gives organisers, teams and fans almost a year of extra preparation time, but it also pushes Asia’s biggest national-team tournament into a crowded end-of-year calendar and leaves broadcasters, sponsors and host cities waiting for a revised schedule.
The Asian Football Confederation said its organising committee approved the rescheduling after extensive discussions and close consultation with the local organising committee and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
The committee approved rescheduling in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions, the AFC said in a statement.
The 24-team tournament will now run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, instead of January 7 to February 5, 2027, with the new dates subject to approval by FIFA.
Matches had been planned across eight venues in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, according to reports of the tournament plan.
Postponement follows weeks of disruption in Saudi Arabia, where Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has targeted infrastructure, including airports, since hostilities resumed.
A strike on Riyadh’s international airport last month killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300, according to CNA, citing Reuters, with the Houthi movement claiming responsibility.
Other events in Saudi Arabia have also been affected in recent weeks, according to Malay Mail, with the Dakar Rally moved out of the country last month, an exhibition tennis event postponed, and the WTA Finals moved to Indian Wells in the United States.
Organisers had released a match schedule last week that would have opened with hosts Saudi Arabia against Palestine in Riyadh on January 7, according to Inside World Football, but that schedule no longer stands.
Confirmed so far are the new December-to-January window and the reason given by the AFC, while FIFA approval and a revised match schedule have not yet been announced.
