AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa says the 2027 Asian Cup remains on schedule for now, but a possible delay until 2028 is under consideration amid security concerns in Saudi Arabia.
The 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia could be postponed until 2028 if regional security concerns persist, Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has said, although the tournament remains on schedule for now.
Speaking to reporters in Zurich on Wednesday, the Bahraini official said the AFC was monitoring developments and could wait until the end of November before making a final decision. He indicated that moving the competition by a year remained an option if the security situation required it.
The tournament, Asia’s premier international football championship, is scheduled to begin Jan. 7, 2027. The 24-team competition will be played across eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar, marking the first time Saudi Arabia has hosted the Asian Cup.
Security concerns overshadow preparations
Plans for the tournament have come under scrutiny amid escalating tensions involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement.
According to the supplied report, a strike on Riyadh’s international airport earlier in the week killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300, citing Reuters. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, which the report described as the deadliest in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
The security situation has also disrupted football and other sporting events in the kingdom.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s club, Al Nassr, saw its AFC Champions League fixture delayed by an hour on Monday after Saudi authorities reported intercepting a missile aimed at Riyadh. Three Saudi domestic league matches, including one involving Al Nassr, were also postponed during the week.
Beyond football, the Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis event was moved from October to Dec. 27-30, while the FIFAe Finals 2026 were postponed. Golf’s Asian Tour has also said it is closely monitoring the security situation ahead of the Saudi International in Riyadh.
Participating teams raise safety concerns
Australia, one of the 24 qualified teams, confirmed that it was closely monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia.
South Korea has also raised concerns through the Korea Professional Footballers Association. Its president, Lee Keun-ho, said the region’s military tensions could not be taken lightly, stressing that the lives and safety of players and supporters must take priority.
These concerns add pressure on the AFC as it assesses whether the tournament can proceed as planned.
Potential scheduling complications
Postponing the Asian Cup would affect broadcasters, sponsors, national football federations and clubs that have planned around the January 2027 schedule. A move to 2028 would require adjustments to an already crowded international football calendar and place the competition in the same year as the Los Angeles Olympics.
Saudi Arabia was confirmed as host at the AFC Congress in Manama in 2023 after India, Iran, Qatar and Uzbekistan withdrew from the bidding process, leaving the kingdom as the sole candidate.
The tournament was also expected to serve as an important preparation milestone for Saudi Arabia ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which the country is scheduled to host.
Qatar will enter the 2027 competition as defending champion after winning the previous edition, branded Qatar 2023, which was played in early 2024 following its relocation from China. Qatar retained the title it first won in 2019.
The AFC is expected to continue assessing security developments and consulting participating federations and Saudi authorities before deciding whether a postponement is necessary. For now, the January 2027 start date remains unchanged.
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