Asian Cup 2027: AFC to review Saudi Arabia tournament plans amid regional developments

The Asian Football Confederation has not yet decided whether to postpone the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, with organisers continuing to work towards staging the tournament on its scheduled dates.

The competition is entering an important assessment period as developments in the region prompt the relevant authorities to review preparations and consider the available options before the continental event begins.

Several reports have suggested that the tournament could be moved to 2028 to allow conditions to stabilise. However, there has been no proposal to remove Saudi Arabia as the host.

According to the Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah, the Asian Football Confederation is coordinating with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation on the basis that the tournament remains scheduled to take place as planned. The two organisations are also monitoring developments and assessing their potential impact on the event’s organisation.

The local organising committee of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation is due to meet representatives of the relevant Asian Football Confederation bodies on 15 November. The meeting will examine the latest situation and the circumstances surrounding the tournament before the next steps are decided.

The Asian Cup is scheduled to run from 7 January to 5 February next year. Organisers are aiming to proceed according to the published timetable, although postponement remains one of the options under consideration depending on the conclusions reached during the review and the discussions at the forthcoming meeting.

The report also lists a Saudi Arabia friendly against South Korea on 13 November 2026.