The 2027 AFC Asian Cup, originally scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in January, has been postponed by approximately 11 months due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
On November 3, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on its official website that it had consulted with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to change the tournament schedule.
The tournament, which was set to run from January 7 to February 5, 2027, will now open on December 23, 2027, and conclude on January 21, 2028.
The revised schedule is subject to final approval from FIFA.
The decision to alter the tournament's timeline comes amid a significant deterioration in the regional security situation. Host nation Saudi Arabia has faced attacks from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, resulting in damage to airports and energy facilities and heightened military tensions.
Previously, on October 26, the AFC had announced the detailed match schedule and venues, expressing confidence in holding the tournament as planned. However, with the ongoing instability in the region, the decision was made to postpone the event.
The AFC stated, "Considering the significant logistical challenges and travel disruptions caused by the current situation in the Middle East, we approved the schedule change. It became unavoidable to delay the tournament to protect the interests of participating teams, stakeholders, and fans due to exceptional difficulties in organizing and operating the event as originally planned."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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