Asian Cup postponed in wake of attacks on hosts Saudi Arabia
The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed to late 2027 and early 2028 due to regional security concerns and logistical challenges. This follows a series of missile attacks in the region and has led to the cancellation of other major sporting events.
Why it matters
The postponement reflects the significant impact of regional geopolitical instability on international sporting calendars and global travel.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Aston Villa will have goalkeeper Zion Suzuki more available this season because of the rescheduling of the Asian Cup
The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed because of a series of deadly attacks on the host country.
The 24-team tournament was scheduled to take place from 7 January to 5 February but has been rescheduled to run from 23 December, 2027 to 21 January, 2028.
In October, a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi movement on Riyadh's airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
A statement from the the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) , external said the decision to reschedule had been taken "in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions".
It added: "The new dates of the tournament will be presented to Fifa for approval."
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