Asian Cup Finals Postponed to December 2027
The Asian Football Confederation announced the postponement of the Asian Cup finals, originally scheduled for Saudi Arabia, to December 2027 and early 2028 due to security threats and logistical complexities in the region.
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
The final tournament of the AFC Asian Cup, originally scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in January and February next year, has been postponed to December 2027 and January 2028 due to “developments in the region,” the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced.
The decision comes amid security threats stemming from the repercussions of the US war on Iran and Houthi attacks, backed by Tehran, against Saudi Arabia.
The finals, originally set for January 7 to February 5, 2027, will now be held from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028.
In a statement, the AFC said, “The Asian Cup Organizing Committee has agreed to reschedule the continental championship for national teams in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including significant logistical complexities and travel disruptions.”
It added, “The new dates for the tournament will be submitted to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) for approval.”
The continental body revealed that the decision was made “following intensive discussions and close consultations with the Local Organizing Committee for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Football Federation.”
“TheAFC statement noted that “these exceptional circumstances have posed significant challenges to organizing and hosting the competition according to the original schedule, making the postponement of the tournament necessary to serve the interests of all participating national teams, officials, fans, and other stakeholders.”
The AFC praised “the Saudi Football Federation and the Local Organizing Committee for their commitment to delivering a world-class tournament for the players and fans of the continent.”
