Is the 2027 Asian Cup still going ahead? What we know

Saudi Arabia insists preparations for January’s Asian Cup remain on schedule, but the AFC has openly acknowledged the possibility of postponing the tournament amid escalating security concerns. Here is what has happened, what has been said and what could come next.

For now, the official answer is yes: the AFC Asian Cup remains scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia on 7 January 2027.

But less than three months before the opening match at the redeveloped King Fahd Sports City Stadium, which is fast nearing completion in its redevelopment, it is no longer possible to say with certainty that the tournament will proceed as originally planned.

A series of missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, including a deadly strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, has raised questions about the safety of players, officials and supporters travelling to the country.

Other sporting events have already been postponed or cancelled, player representatives have demanded proper assurances and, most significantly, AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has publicly acknowledged that the Asian Cup could be delayed until 2028 – a rare move for a President and a body that often says little at all.

The Local Organising Committee, meanwhile, insist preparations are continuing.

So what do we actually know?

What is currently scheduled?

The AFC Asian Cup is scheduled to run from 7 January to 5 February 2027, with 24 teams competing in 51 matches across eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.

Riyadh, the Kingdom’s capital, is at the heart of the tournament’s plans. Five of the eight venues are in the capital, which is scheduled to stage 31 matches, including the opening game between Saudi Arabia and Palestine and the final on 5 February.

The concentration of the tournament in the capital is significant, because this is not a case where one affected city could easily be removed while the rest of the tournament continues unchanged.

Riyadh sits at the heart of the tournament, not only from a match schedule point of view, but from a broadcast, media and logistical point of view. Given the concentration of matches in the capital, it is safe to assume that most teams, media and fans will base themselves in Riyadh and frequently transit in and out of the city’s main airport.

As recently as 29 September, the AFC and Saudi Arabian Football Federation said preparations had moved from the planning phase into “full operational status”. The AFC had also confirmed the tournament schedule, match officials and official match ball as part of its 100-day countdown.

The present uncertainty therefore concerns an event already deep into its delivery phase, rather than one still at an early planning stage, as was the case when China relinquished hosting rights for 2023 over a year before the tournament was due to be staged.

What changed?

The immediate catalyst was the attack on King Khalid International Airport on 10 October.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the strike, which killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to Reuters. A further attack on the airport the following day caused additional casualties, while other strikes have targeted aviation, oil and military infrastructure across Saudi Arabia.

By 16 October, the Associated Press reported that at least 19 people had been killed during more than a week of attacks across the Kingdom, with no immediate prospect of a resolution on the horizon.

While insignificant in the greater context, football has already been directly affected. Al Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite match against Neftchi at Al Awwal Park was delayed by an hour after Saudi Civil Defence issued a security warning shortly before the scheduled kick-off.

The match eventually went ahead, but the delay demonstrated that the security situation was no longer separate from the football calendar.

Other sports have gone further.

The FIFAe Finals, scheduled to be staged in Jeddah from 16–25 October, were postponed indefinitely. The Saudi International golf tournament in Riyadh was also postponed, the Urban Cycling World Championships were cancelled and the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition was moved from October to late December.

That doesn’t mean the AFC Asian Cup will follow suit but it does, however, establish that major international events in both Riyadh and Jeddah have already judged that the current environment presents significant security, logistical or organisational problems.

What has the AFC said?

The most consequential comments came from AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.

Speaking in Zurich last week, Shaikh Salman said the confederation was in “no hurry” to make an immediate decision and could monitor developments for several more weeks.

“We can wait until the end of November,” he said.

“Things can change very quickly for better or worse in the region, and it is a question of seeing what happens.

“If we need to make a decision then we will, but we could move back a year to 2028 if we need to. But at the moment we are monitoring the situation and everything is on schedule.”

That he raised the prospect of postponement is significant, as it was the first time the option was publicly acknowledged by a senior official and meant the possibility had moved beyond simple media speculation.

There is an important distinction to make: Shaikh Salman spoke about postponement, not cancellation. While some speculate on possible alternative host nations, that is seemingly not an option on the table as things stand.

What have the Saudi organisers said?

The Saudi 2027 Local Organising Committee responded on 15 October by insisting preparations were continuing in coordination with the AFC and other stakeholders.

“Preparations across all organisational and operational areas are progressing according to the approved schedule, including work on venues, facilities and supporting services,” read a statement provided to the media last week.

“The focus remains on delivering a world-class tournament experience for participating teams, fans and media from across Asia, while bringing the continent together through football.

“The LOC remains committed to keeping preparations on track and ensuring the necessary resources are in place to deliver a tournament that reflects Saudi Arabia’s ambitions and standards as a host.

“At the same time, it will continue to monitor developments relevant to the tournament and ensure the appropriate conditions are in place for its successful delivery.”

That statement serves two purposes.

First, it rejects the suggestion that preparations have already been halted or that postponement is inevitable. Staff, contractors, teams and commercial partners are still being told to work towards a 7 January start.

Just this week the kick-off times for all matches were confirmed, demonstrating that works are continuing on the basis that the tournament will proceed as planned.

Second, its commitment is not unconditional. By acknowledging the need to monitor developments and ensure appropriate conditions, the LOC has left room for the position to change.

The LOC statement and Shaikh Salman’s comments are, therefore, not necessarily contradictory. Preparations can continue while the AFC retains the option of making a later decision.

What are players and national associations saying?

The Korea Pro-Footballers’ Association has issued the strongest public warning from a national players’ union.

Its president, Lee Keun-ho, a former star of the national team, who played in the final of the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia, said the continuing military tension and instability could not be treated lightly.

He argued that no tournament could take precedence over the lives and safety of players and supporters, and that every option should be considered if adequate protection could not be guaranteed.

FIFPRO Asia/Oceania president Beau Busch, who also doubles as the CEO of Australia’s players’ union, Professional Footballers Australia, has made a similar point, saying the safety of players, supporters and staff must be the central consideration in planning and delivering the Asian Cup.

The Korea Football Association has said it is communicating with the AFC and continuing to monitor developments.

Football Australia has also confirmed that its security team is assessing the situation and that it remains in contact with the PFA, the AFC and the Australian government.

While the Japan Football Association, nor the Japan Pro-Footballers Association, have commented publicly, the JFA withdrew its eNational Team from the FIFAe World Cup in Saudi Arabia on 10 October after assessing conditions in the host country and the available security information. FIFA subsequently postponed the entire event.

The FIFAe decision does not necessarily establish what Japan will do regarding January’s Asian Cup, however, it does show that one of Asia’s most influential associations is willing to withdraw a national delegation from a Saudi-hosted event when its risk assessment demands it.

What could happen next?

There are three broad scenarios.

The first is that the tournament proceeds in January as planned.

That remains the formal position of the AFC and the Saudi LOC. If attacks subside, air travel stabilises and participating associations receive adequate security assurances, preparations could continue without a major change to the schedule.

The second is postponement until 2028.

This is the only alternative publicly raised by AFC president, Shaikh Salman. It would allow Saudi Arabia to retain the tournament while giving organisers more time for the regional security situation to stabilise.

There is precedent for an Asian Cup moving by a year, and we just have to go back to the most recent tournament for that. The previous tournament was originally scheduled for China in 2023, but was ultimately staged in Qatar in early 2024 after China relinquished its hosting rights in May 2022.

A move to 2028 would also require the AFC to rebuild the international calendar around the tournament, confirm new player release arrangements and revisit team camps, broadcast contracts, accommodation and ticketing.

The third possibility, albeit a remote one, is relocation.

At present, there is no public evidence that the AFC has begun such a process, and no alternative host has come forward or been suggested.

The time available would make relocating a 24-team tournament involving 51 matches exceptionally difficult. Shaikh Salman’s decision to identify postponement rather than relocation suggests that retaining Saudi Arabia as host remains the AFC’s preferred position if January becomes untenable, which would come as no surprise given the financial and political influence the Kingdom has within AFC circles.

That could change, but it is not the option presently being advanced in public.

When will we know?

Shaikh Salman’s comments make the end of November the clearest decision point, although the AFC has not published a formal deadline or decision-making process.

Before then, the AFC’s executive will meet in Tokyo this week for the AFC Extraordinary Congress, as well as the AFC Member Associations and Regional Associations Presidents’ and General Secretaries’ Conference.

Those meetings were scheduled well before the latest attacks and have not been formally described as an emergency summit about the Asian Cup, although it is believed, with more than 120 officials expected to attend, that the subject will be raised and discussed by Asian football powerbrokers.

The most important developments to watch will be the wider security situation, the operation of Saudi airports and airspace, government travel advice, further changes to Saudi Arabia’s sporting calendar and whether the AFC provides participating associations with a detailed security and contingency plan.

The issue of government travel advice is one area worthy of particular attention, with Australia last week increasing their travel advisory to its highest level, being Level 4 – Do Not Travel.

While that doesn’t legally forbid the Socceroos from travelling, it significantly heightens the risk and has established the highest possible official risk assessment.

Further, South Korea and Singapore are now advising against planned travel nationwide, while Japan advises against non-essential travel throughout Saudi Arabia.

For now, looking at just the facts as they stand, nothing has changed.

Saudi Arabia remains the host, the tournament remains scheduled for 7 January, and preparations have not stopped and no alternative host has been named.

But the AFC is no longer offering an unconditional guarantee that the tournament will begin on time. Its president, Shaikh Salman, has publicly acknowledged that a postponement to 2028 is possible, while players and associations are asking questions that cannot be answered.

The Asian Cup is still on. Whether that stays the case, however, remains to be seen.