2027 Asian Cup Postponed After Deadly Attacks In Saudi Arabia

The Asian Football Confederation has rescheduled the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, moving the 24-nation tournament from its original 7 January–5 February slot to 23 December 2027–21 January 2028.

The AFC said the change was made because of exceptional regional circumstances, including significant logistical problems and travel disruption. It said the revised dates would be submitted to Fifa for approval.

The decision follows deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia, including an October missile strike by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Riyadh airport that killed 13 people and injured more than 300.

Several other events in Saudi Arabia have recently been called off or delayed, including the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition in Riyadh and the Asian Tour’s season-ending golf tournament.

It is the second consecutive Asian Cup postponement. The 2023 edition was moved to 2024 and relocated from China to Qatar because of the Covid pandemic.

The new scheduling means Premier League clubs will not lose Asian players for part of the current season.

Japan internationals affected include Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, Ipswich’s Daizen Maeda, Leeds’ Ao Tanaka, Crystal Palace pair Takehiro Tomiyasu and Daichi Kamada, and Hull’s Hidemasa Morita.

Japan would have been among the favourites, and Villa could have been without Suzuki for at least seven matches had Japan reached the final.

Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, currently injured but expected back later this year, would also likely have been selected. Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov of Uzbekistan and Hull’s Australian defender Lucas Herrington were also expected to receive call-ups.