The 2027 Asian Cup, scheduled to be hosted by Saudi Arabia, has been postponed due to a series of deadly attacks in the region. The tournament, originally slated for January 7 to February 5, 2027, has been rescheduled to run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028.
In October, an attack on Riyadh's airport by Yemen's Houthi movement resulted in 13 fatalities and over 300 injuries. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) cited "current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions" as the reason for the postponement. The new dates will be presented to FIFA for approval.
This postponement follows the cancellation of several other events in Saudi Arabia, including the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition. The AFC statement indicated that the decision was made to address significant challenges to the tournament's logistics and participant travel.