Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia moved back almost a year
The 2027 Asian Cup, the continent's national team football tournament, has been moved back almost a year. It will now be played from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028, instead of starting on 7 January 2027. Saudi Arabia is still the host.
The change was announced by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the body that runs football across Asia. In its statement, the AFC said the decision was made "in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions". The BBC reported the move on 3 November.
The conflict in the Middle East is the backdrop. In October, a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi movement hit Riyadh's airport. Thirteen people were killed and more than 300 were wounded. Since then, a run of events in Saudi Arabia has been called off or delayed. A tennis exhibition event planned for Riyadh, the Six Kings Slam, has been cancelled. The Asian Tour postponed the Saudi International golf event indefinitely, and cycling's Urban World Championships were also cancelled.
The tournament has been on a rocky path for some time. The final draw, the ceremony that decides which teams play in which groups, was due to take place in Riyadh in April 2026. The AFC announced in March that it had been postponed. In mid-October, Saudi organisers still said their preparations were on schedule. Within weeks, the dates had changed.
The AFC has said the new dates will now go to FIFA, football's world governing body, for approval. Until FIFA signs off, the December to January window is a proposal rather than a final fixture list.
For fans, the change is a big shift. The tournament was due to start in early January, during the European club season's winter break. Now it will be held over the Christmas and New Year period, so supporters will need to plan their trips and watch schedules again. Clubs in Europe and elsewhere may also have to think about players who are called up for the tournament, as the calendar will look different from the one first planned.
Saudi Arabia was set to open the tournament against Palestine in Riyadh. That opening match will still need a new date, and the AFC has not yet said which matches will be played where.
The Asian Cup is one of the biggest tournaments in the Asian game. It is held every four years and it gives teams from across a huge region the chance to compete for the continental title. The new dates will decide when, and under what conditions, that happens.
