Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia faces possible one-year postponement due to security concerns
Asian football authorities are considering delaying the 2027 Asian Cup, currently scheduled for Saudi Arabia, by one year amid ongoing security threats in the region. The AFC says it remains flexible but is in no rush to make a final decision.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
The Asian Football Confederation is keeping open the possibility of postponing the Asian Cup from 2027 to 2028 following a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia attributed to Yemen's Houthi militants. The move would provide additional time to assess security conditions in the host nation ahead of the continental tournament, one of Asian football's premier competitions. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim indicated that organisers would reschedule the event "if we need to," though no imminent announcement is expected. The confederation stressed it is taking a measured approach to the decision, with no pressure to determine the tournament's fate in the immediate term. Saudi Arabia has faced repeated drone and missile attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis over the past months, raising questions about hosting major international sporting events. The AFC is expected to continue monitoring the security situation in consultation with Saudi authorities before making any final determination on the Asian Cup's timing.