Saudi security crisis threatens to delay 2027 Asian Cup

The Asian Cup, set to take place in Saudi Arabia in January, may be delayed to 2028 due to a series of Houthi attacks on the country, according to AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa. The 2027 Asian Cup was originally scheduled to kick off on January 7 in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al Khobar. The kingdom has faced sustained attacks in recent days as tensions escalate in the war with the Iran-backed Houthi group.

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa told reporters in Zurich that they are not in a hurry to make a decision over the fate of the tournament, but if needed, they could move it back to 2028. He emphasized that the situation in the region can change quickly, and they will monitor the situation closely.

The postponement of the tournament could also affect other events, such as the Asian Champions League match of Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, which was delayed by an hour due to a missile interception near Riyadh. Additionally, three domestic matches in Saudi football were postponed, and the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament, featuring top players like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, was pushed back to the end of December.

Australia, one of the 24 teams set to participate in the Asian Cup, is closely monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia. South Korean players' representative Lee Keun-ho expressed serious concern regarding the safety of all players participating in the Asian Cup, stating that no tournament's value should take precedence over the lives and safety of players and football fans.