AFC Postpones Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia by Nearly a Year Over Houthi Attack Fears

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed the Asian Cup football tournament in Saudi Arabia because of regional security concerns created by continued drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The tournament had been scheduled from 7 January to 5 February next year. Under the new schedule, it will be held from 23 December next year to 21 January 2028, a delay of nearly a year.

The AFC said the new timetable would be sent to world football's governing body, FIFA, for approval to finalise it.

Saudi Arabia is set to host the prestigious Asian Cup alone for the first time. The tournament is also highly important for the country's preparations to host the 2034 Football World Cup.

Of the eight venues set for the tournament, five stadiums are in the capital, Riyadh. Of the tournament's 51 matches, 30 important matches including the final were due to be held at Riyadh venues including the King Fahd Sports City Stadium.

In recent times, however, Houthi attacks on important installations including the capital Riyadh have risen alarmingly. Attacks targeting Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport in particular have caused major damage.

The airport has reportedly come under at least 20 attacks in the past 11 days, in which 17 people were killed and more than three hundred injured. In such a situation, a serious risk arose over the safe movement of foreign teams, officials and football supporters.

In a notice published on Tuesday afternoon, the AFC said the organising committee had approved rescheduling the tournament after considering possible logistical complications and the risk of disruption to air travel because of the exceptional situation in the region.

The notice said such a difficult decision was unavoidable for the overall safety of all participating teams, match officials, spectators and stakeholders.

Yet even as the conflict grew, AFC President Sheikh Salman had assured last month that the tournament would be held on schedule as previously planned. In the face of the real security crisis, the continental competition has ultimately been postponed.