Saudi Arabia's 2027 AFC Asian Cup postponed by almost a year

The 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed by almost a year. The continental football tournament will now take place from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, instead of its original January–February 2027 schedule.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed the revised dates on Tuesday, November 3, following discussions with the local organising committee and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.

AFC Confirms New Asian Cup Dates

The tournament was initially scheduled to run from January 7 to February 5, 2027. However, ongoing regional tensions, security concerns and related logistical challenges have led to the change.

In its announcement, the AFC confirmed that the Saudi Arabia 2027 Asian Cup would now be held between December 23, 2027, and January 21, 2028.
The revised schedule will be submitted to FIFA for approval.

Saudi Pro League Matches May Also Be Rescheduled

The postponement is expected to affect Saudi domestic football as well. According to Saudi journalist Hamd Al Suwaily, several rounds of the Saudi Roshn League may be played during the period originally reserved for the Asian Cup.

This means Saudi clubs will also need to adjust their schedules and prepare for the revised domestic football calendar.

UAE's Asian Cup Fixtures to Be Rescheduled

The UAE national team had been drawn in Group E alongside South Korea, Vietnam and Yemen.

Under the original schedule, the UAE were due to begin their campaign against Vietnam on January 11, followed by matches against Yemen on January 15 and South Korea on January 20.

With the tournament dates changing, these fixtures will also need to be rescheduled. The additional preparation time could give the UAE team more opportunities to prepare for the competition.

The 2027 edition will mark the first time Saudi Arabia hosts the AFC Asian Cup. A total of 24 national teams will compete across eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.

Qatar will enter the tournament as defending champions after winning the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

The revised dates mean teams, organisers and domestic leagues will now have to adjust their preparations ahead of the continent's major football competition.