The 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been rescheduled from January to a new window spanning December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on November 3 that regional developments, logistical challenges and travel disruptions made the original dates impractical.
The tournament had been set to run from January 7 to February 5, 2027. The AFC said the revised dates will be submitted to FIFA for approval, so that step remains pending. Its announcement did not provide a revised match schedule.
Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar are due to host the month-long competition. The AFC said the decision followed discussions with Saudi officials and the local organising committee, and was made in the interests of participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders. The AFC’s announcement cited “exceptional circumstances” as well as substantial logistical complexities and travel disruption.
The timing change follows earlier assurances from local organisers that preparations were on schedule. Yasser al-Misehal, chairman of the local organising committee, said the tournament would move to the new dates and preparations would continue. He said organisers were working with the AFC and partners to deliver the competition.
The postponement changes the plans of national teams that had been preparing for the January-February 2027 tournament. The AFC said the revised dates were selected after consultation with Saudi counterparts; it has not announced when a new fixture schedule will be issued.
Clayton Ward