Organisers hold to the 2027 schedule

Organisers of the 2027 Asian Cup said on Friday, 16 October, that preparations for the tournament in Saudi Arabia remain on track. The competition is scheduled to run from 7 January to 5 February 2027 in Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh. The Saudi organising committee said it is coordinating closely with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and its statement points to work on venues, facilities and supporting services. The Local Organising Committee said it would keep monitoring developments and ensure the right conditions are in place for a successful tournament.

“Preparations across all organisational and operational areas are progressing according to the approved schedule.”

Houthi strikes reach Riyadh and the south

Houthi rebels, the Iran-backed group in Yemen, have fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia for more than a week. Targets have included Riyadh's international airport, the headquarters of oil company Aramco, and other aviation, oil and military facilities. Reports put the deadly strike on Riyadh airport on Saturday, 10 October, at 13 killed and more than 300 wounded, the deadliest attack in Saudi Arabia in about ten years. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, said strikes on airports in Riyadh and other southern cities had killed 19 people and wounded almost 400. Other reporting cites at least 19 dead, including foreigners, after more than a week of attacks, and the main Riyadh airport remains closed.

Sporting events postponed or moved

The Asian Champions League match between Al-Nassr, the club of Cristiano Ronaldo, and Uzbekistan's Neftchi Fergana was delayed on Monday, 12 October, in Riyadh after Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense issued a security alert. Al-Nassr went on to win the game 3-1. The Urban Cycling World Championships, scheduled in Riyadh from 3 to 7 November, have been cancelled. The Six Kings Slam tennis event, originally set for 21 to 24 October, has moved to 27 to 30 December. The Asian Tour's season-ending Saudi International, planned for 18 to 21 November, is postponed indefinitely. The Fifa esports World Cup, due to start on Friday, 16 October, has also been postponed, and the Misk Foundation cancelled its global forum for young leaders. The WTA Finals, scheduled for 8 to 15 November, are moving from Riyadh to Indian Wells in California.

Asian Cup decision and South Korean concerns

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa told media in Zurich this week that the confederation can wait until the end of November before deciding on the tournament. He said the event could move back a year to 2028 if needed.

“We can wait until the end of November.”

South Korea's Professional Footballers' Association, through its head Lee Keun-ho, has raised concern about the security of players. South Korea is set to open against Yemen on 10 January, but Lee added that this depends on the match being deemed safe.

“No competition's value can take precedence over the lives and safety of players and football fans.”

Lee said that if safety cannot be sufficiently guaranteed, every option, including whether the tournament should be held, must be reviewed.

Doubts over the kingdom's sporting and business plans

The strikes have undercut the efforts of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to turn the kingdom into a hub for global business and tourism and to diversify its oil-dependent economy. Hosting international sport and business events has been a cornerstone of that push for years. A diplomatic summit with Europe has also been cancelled or postponed. Reports say the 2029 Saudi Winter Asian Games have been relocated to Kazakhstan, and that five proposed new stadiums for the 2034 World Cup may not be built, including the Neom stadium.