November 3: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has rescheduled the men’s blue-ribbon Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, 2027 until the end of the year. The proposal is now to play the 24-team finals from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028 due to “exceptional circumstances arising from the evolution of the region”.
In a statement, the AFC said the decision was made “after extensive discussions and close consultation with the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 and the Saudi Football Federation (SAFF).
The new dates for the tournament have yet to be set by FIFA.
Doubts had been raised over the final after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked Riyadh’s airport, killing and injuring people and shutting down the transport hub. The regional tension also forced Saudi Arabia to cancel the Future Investment Summit, a flagship event nicknamed “Davos in the desert” that brings together investors from around the world.
Referring to security concerns, the AFC said: “Exceptional circumstances have arisen for the organization and delivery of the competition as originally planned, making the postponement necessary in the interests of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders.”
Last week, the organizers released the fixture list which would have started on January 7 with hosts Saudi Arabia facing Palestine in Group A in Riyadh. In Group C, Iran will play their three group matches against China, Syria and the Kyrgyz Republic in the Saudi capital. Defending champions Qatar will play Thailand and Japan at the city’s King Saud University Stadium and the other Group F match against Indonesia will take place in Jeddah.
The new schedule will likely reflect the original proposal in terms of matches and venues.
Riyadh’s King Fahd Sports City Stadium will likely still host the final. The Saudi capital, as well as Jeddah and Khobar will serve as host cities for the 24-team continental flagship tournament.
Organizers said last week they were 80 percent ready for the tournament’s January start. This included preparations around the 27 designated training sites and base camps, as well as the 31 tournament hotels.
“The AFC will continue to work closely with the LOC, the participating member associations and their valued sponsors and commercial and broadcasting partners and all stakeholders to organize a spectacle that matches the stature and operational excellence synonymous with Asia’s most prestigious men’s national team competition, while minimizing the impact of the postponement,” the AFC statement said.
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