AFC postpones Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia to late 2027 due to conflict in Middle East

Tournament pushed back 11 months with proposed start on 23 DecemberNew dates with 21 January 2028 final must be approved by FifaThe 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.After a month of speculation following the airport attack on Riyadh’s international airport, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Tuesday that the tournament had been pushed back 11 months. Continue reading…

Tournament pushed back 11 months with proposed start on 23 December while the new dates with 21 January 2028 final must be approved by Fifa New dates with 21 January 2028 final must be approved by Fifa The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. After a month of speculation following the airport attack on Riyadh’s international airport, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed on Tuesday that the tournament had been pushed back 11 months. The rescheduled tournament is expected to kick off in the 2027 Christmas break with a 23 December start date leading up to a 21 January 2028 final.

“The organising committee for AFC Asian Cup approved to reschedule the flagship national team tournament 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. “Exceptional circumstances have been created for the organisation and delivery of the competition as originally scheduled, making the postponement necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders.” The proposed new dates –