{
  "id": 14658503,
  "title": "Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia could be postponed but 'no hurry' to decide: AFC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/asian-cup-in-saudi-arabia-could-be-postponed-but-no-hurry-to-decide",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T09:06:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2026/10/1556196/asian-cup-saudi-arabia-could-be-postponed-no-hurry-decide-afc"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Asian Cup, set to take place in Saudi Arabia in January, may be postponed to 2028 due to ongoing Houthi attacks, according to AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa. The 2027 Asian Cup was originally scheduled to begin on January 7 in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al Khobar. Despite the recent escalation in the war with the Iran-backed Houthi group, AFC officials are not in a hurry to make a decision regarding the tournament's future. AFC president told reporters in Zurich that they will monitor the situation closely and will make a decision if necessary. If changes are required, the tournament could be moved back a year to 2028. Meanwhile, other sporting events in the region have also been impacted by the ongoing tensions, with a Six Kings Slam tennis tournament and a South Korean players' association expressing serious concerns over player safety.",
  "summary": "ZURICH: The Asian Cup scheduled for January in Saudi Arabia could be moved back a year to 2028 “if we need to“, the continent’s top football official said, following a series of Houthi attacks on the country.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Australia, New Zealand and Japan issue fresh travel alerts for Saudi Arabia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/australia-new-zealand-and-japan-issue-fresh-travel-alerts-for-saudi",
        "published": "2026-10-15T05:36:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia could be postponed but 'no hurry' to decide: AFC",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/asian-cup-in-saudi-arabia-could-be-postponed-but-no-hurry-to-decide-14662692",
        "published": "2026-10-15T09:30:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Saudi Arabia executes Bangladeshi man, woman for indecent acts inside Mecca mosque",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/saudi-arabia-executes-bangladeshi-man-woman-for-indecent-acts-inside",
        "published": "2026-10-15T10:25:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Environmental permits in Saudi Arabia rise 42% in Q3 2026",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/environmental-permits-in-saudi-arabia-rise-42-in-q3-2026",
        "published": "2026-10-15T10:49:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia could be postponed but 'no hurry' to decide: AFC",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/asian-cup-in-saudi-arabia-could-be-postponed-but-no-hurry-to-decide-14679330",
        "published": "2026-10-15T11:02:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}