The AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed by almost 12 months, with the tournament now scheduled to take place from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed the decision on Tuesday, November 3, following extensive discussions with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the tournament's Local Organising Committee.
Originally scheduled to run from January 7 to February 5, 2027, the AFC said the 24-team competition has been pushed back on account of "exceptional circumstances" arising from developments across the Middle East, including logistical challenges that have made staging the tournament as originally planned more challenging.
51 matches across three host cities
Saudi Arabia will stage the AFC Asian Cup for the first time, with its 51 matches set to be played across eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. The tournament will be the biggest sports event held in the Kingdom to date, and will act as a fitting warm-up for Saudi Arabia's hosting of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Despite the delay, the Saudi LOC have reaffirmed their commitment to delivering the tournament in partnership with the AFC.
The revised dates will now be submitted to FIFA for approval.
The AFC has confirmed it will continue working with participating national associations, broadcasters, sponsors and other stakeholders to minimise the impact of the postponement.
