Asian Cup 2027 in doubt as AFC weighs one-year delay amid Houthi attacks

Summary

• AFC chief says the Saudi-hosted tournament could slip to 2028 “if we need to”, but insists preparations remain on track for now The 2027 AFC Asian Cup could be pushed back by a full year after a wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia raised serious questions over the safety of players, officials and fans.
• Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa told reporters in Zurich on Wednesday that moving the tournament to 2028 remains on the table if the security situation demands it.
• Saudi Arabia was confirmed as host at the AFC Congress in Manama in 2023, after India, Iran, Qatar and Uzbekistan withdrew from the bidding race.

AI Generated Summary

AFC chief says the Saudi-hosted tournament could slip to 2028 “if we need to”, but insists preparations remain on track for now

The 2027 AFC Asian Cup could be pushed back by a full year after a wave of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia raised serious questions over the safety of players, officials and fans. It is Asia’s biggest football showpiece and the first edition to be staged in the kingdom.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa told reporters in Zurich on Wednesday that moving the tournament to 2028 remains on the table if the security situation demands it. The Bahraini official also made clear that the continental body is not rushing into a decision. He said the AFC can afford to wait until the end of November before making a final call. For now, he stressed, the AFC is monitoring developments and the event remains on schedule.

*A tournament under the shadow of conflict*

The 24-team tournament is scheduled to kick off on January 7, 2027, with matches spread across eight stadiums in three cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. For Saudi Arabia, the event was meant to be a major dress rehearsal for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which the kingdom will also host.