Saudi Arabia says preparations on for 2027 AFC Asian cup

Saudi Arabian organizers have stated that preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup remain on schedule despite escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. The tournament is scheduled to begin on January 7 in the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. The local organizing committee noted that work is continuing in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and other stakeholders to ensure the event meets the country's hosting standards.

Concerns regarding the tournament have grown following recent Houthi attacks, which have led to the postponement of several sporting events, including domestic football matches. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa indicated that a final decision regarding the tournament could wait until the end of November, noting that the competition could be moved back a year to 2028 if necessary.

The reported escalation in conflict includes strikes on various sites in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition has reported that the Houthis have targeted dozens of sites in recent weeks, including airports and oil installations. Additionally, The Citizen reports that attacks have targeted Saudi Arabia and threatened religious sites near Mecca and Medina.

Brief written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye, Free Malaysia Today, The Vibes, Al-Monitor, The Citizen — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.