Asian Cup postponed due to Middle East conflict

A little over two months before it was set to kick off, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed its flagship international football tournament in the wake of recent deadly attacks on host country, Saudi Arabia.

The AFC cited "substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions" caused by conflicts in the region.

Instead of January 7, 2027, the tournament will now kick off on December 23 and end on January 21, 2028. The postponement follows delays and cancellations of a number of sporting events in the region, including a Formula One race, the men's and women's tennis finals, the 2027 Dakar Rally and disruption to Asia's marquee continental club football tournament, the AFC Champions League Elite.

Saudi Arabia hosted, and won, the Gulf Cup last month, but there had already been much talk about whether the much larger Asian Cup could go ahead.

It was scheduled to feature 24 teams playing matches in eight venues across Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar. However, the AFC said that "circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions," made the tournament impossible.

"Exceptional circumstances have been created for the organization and delivery of the competition as originally scheduled, making the postponement necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders."

In particular, the postponement was forced by a recent wave of deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi rebels as well as other raging conflicts in the region. The Houthis have targeted Saudi infrastructure, including airports. They are fighting a Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government, a civil war that reignited in July following a years-long truce.

The AFC had been under pressure from several federations to postpone the tournament, with South Korea's players leading the way.

"The ongoing military tensions and security instability in the Middle East are issues that cannot be taken lightly," Lee Keun-ho, president of the Korea Professional Footballers Association, said last month, according to the Yonhap News Agency.

Lee added that "no tournament's value can take precedence over the lives and safety of players and football fans."

It seems that the AFC now agrees. However, following the announcement of the postponement, Yasser al-Misehal, chairman of the local organizing committee, promised that Saudi Arabia was "fully ready" whenever the tournament ended up being held.

"The tournament will move to the new dates, and our preparations will continue as planned," he told the Saudi Press Agency.

"We're working closely with the AFC and all our partners to make sure the tournament runs smoothly and meets the high standards expected of Saudi Arabia and the Asian Cup."

Saudi Arabia has invested hugely in sports over the last decade, from owning Premier League teams to hosting boxing title fights and bidding for a number of major sporting events, most notably World Cup 2034, which they won the right to host unopposed.

However, the country has recently withdrawn or slashed funding for a number of sporting events including golf, rugby, tennis and winter sports.