The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced that the 2027 Asian Cup has been postponed amid deadly attacks in host country Saudi Arabia.
The competition was set to be held from Jan. 7 to Feb. 5, 2027, and will now take place from Dec. 23, 2027, to Jan. 21, 2028, pending FIFA approval.
The postponement was made "in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions," the AFC said in a statement.
The Middle East has been roiled by instability following the U.S. and Israel's decision to launch attacks on Iran in February.
The conflict has increasingly affected Saudi Arabia, where the Houthis, a Yemeni militia group backed by Iran, have launched
multiple drone and missile strikes on Saudi airports and energy infrastructure.
In October, a Houthi attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Per Reuters, around 86% of scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport were cancelled between Oct. 8 and Oct. 25.
As a result of the travel instability, multiple sporting events set for Saudi Arabia have been moved or postponed recently, including the Six Kings Slam tennis event and the Saudi International golf tournament.
This is the second straight Asian Cup to be postponed. The 2023 edition was originally set for China, but was moved to Qatar and held in 2024 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defending champion Qatar retained its title after defeating Jordan 3–1 in the final.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia postponed amid Middle East turmoil
