The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed after a series of deadly attacks on the host country. The 24-team tournament, originally set for 7 January to 5 February, is now due to run from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028.
Why the AFC moved the finals
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Asia’s governing body for the game, said the change reflected “current exceptional circumstances” linked to regional developments, including major logistical complications and travel disruption. It said the revised schedule will be submitted to FIFA, world football’s governing body, for approval.
In October, Yemen’s Houthi movement launched a missile attack on Riyadh’s airport that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300. The tournament shift is the second Asian Cup postponement in a row: the 2023 edition was moved to 2024 and relocated from China to Qatar because of the Covid pandemic.
Domestic league and other sports disrupted
Saudi Arabia’s top football division, the Saudi Pro League, postponed this week’s round of matches after the Asian Cup dates changed. League officials said the reshuffle gives “additional flexibility” so fixtures can be spread more evenly through the rest of the season.
Several other events in the kingdom have also been cancelled or delayed recently. The Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition, planned for Riyadh, was called off. The Asian Tour indefinitely postponed its season-ending golf tournament, which had been scheduled for 18–21 November.
Club football calendar relief in Europe
Moving the finals out of the original early-2027 window means a number of Premier League players are less likely to miss club matches for that mid-season international break. Japan’s expected squad pool includes Aston Villa’s Zion Suzuki, Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, Ipswich Town’s Daizen Maeda, Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka, Crystal Palace’s Takehiro Tomiyasu and Daichi Kamada, Hull City’s Hidemasa Morita, and Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, who is injured but expected back later this year.
Japan had been viewed as one of the tournament favourites. Villa, who are in the Champions League, might have been without Suzuki for at least seven games if Japan had reached the final. Endo has yet to feature for Liverpool this season despite the club’s Champions League campaign. Manchester City’s Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov and Hull City’s Australia defender Lucas Herrington were also among those expected to face Asian Cup call-ups under the old dates.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- October: A Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s airport kills 13 people and wounds more than 300.
- Recently: The Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition planned for Riyadh is cancelled.
- 18–21 November (planned): The Asian Tour indefinitely postpones its season-ending golf event.
- This week: The Saudi Pro League postpones its round of fixtures after the Asian Cup is rescheduled.
- New window: The 2027 Asian Cup is set for 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028, pending FIFA approval (was 7 January–5 February).
Aasan alfaaz mein
Saudi Arabia mein hone wala 2027 Asian Cup ab pehle se late ho gaya hai. Pehle January se February tak ka plan tha, ab 23 December 2027 se 21 January 2028 tak hoga. October mein Riyadh airport par missile attack hua tha jismein 13 log mare aur 300 se zyada zakhmi hue. Football fans ko ab yeh nayi dates yaad rakhni hongi.
