The 2027 Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia, has been postponed due to recent deadly attacks on the host nation. The 24-team competition, originally planned from January 7 to February 5, will now take place from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028.
This decision comes after a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi movement on Riyadh’s airport in October, which resulted in 13 fatalities and over 300 injuries. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) cited “current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions” for the rescheduling.
The AFC stated that the new tournament dates will be submitted to Fifa for approval. In response to the Asian Cup’s postponement, the Saudi Pro League has also rescheduled its upcoming fixtures, aiming for a more balanced distribution of games throughout the season.
Several other events in Saudi Arabia have also been canceled recently, including the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition and the Asian Tour’s season-ending golf tournament. This marks the second consecutive Asian Cup to be postponed, following the 2023 edition, which was moved from China to Qatar and delayed to 2024 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The rescheduling of the 2027 Asian Cup means that several Premier League players will not have to miss a portion of their current club season. Players like Aston Villa’s Zion Suzuki, Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, and Ipswich Town’s Daizen Maeda, who were expected to represent Japan, will now be available for their clubs. Other Japanese internationals potentially affected include Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka, Crystal Palace’s Takehiro Tomiyasu and Daichi Kamada, and Hull City’s Hidemasa Morita. Aston Villa, competing in the Champions League, could have been without Suzuki for up to seven matches had Japan progressed.
Liverpool’s Endo, though yet to play for the club this season, would also have been involved. Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, currently injured but expected back later this year, was also likely to be called up for Japan.
Additionally, Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov of Uzbekistan and Hull City’s Australian defender Lucas Herrington would have anticipated international call-ups for the tournament.
