Middle East conflict hits Saudi football: Pro League postpones matches after Asian Cup delay; Ronaldo also intervened

File Pic: Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr’s Bento walk onto the pitch with teammates before the match. (Photo by Reuters) The impact of the escalating conflict in the Middle East on Saudi football has widened, with the Saudi Pro League (SPL) postponing Matchweek 13 after the 2027 AFC Asian Cup was pushed back almost a year due to security concerns and logistical issues in the region.The SPL announced its decision on Tuesday, just two days before the scheduled start of the game week, saying it would review the domestic fixture list following the rescheduling of the continental tournament. New dates for the postponed league matches will be announced once the review is complete.“The decision comes as part of a wider review of the 2026-27 RSL (Roshn Saudi League) fixture list, with the revised Asian Cup dates creating further flexibility in the domestic football calendar,” the league said in a statement.The postponement follows the AFC’s decision to move the Asian Cup from its original period of 7 January to 5 February 2027 to 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028. The tournament, which will feature 24 teams across eight venues in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, has been affected, including by security issues and complications in the region.The decision came after months of uncertainty over whether Saudi Arabia would be able to host the competition as planned. The situation is particularly tense after deadly attacks on the kingdom, including a strike on Riyadh International Airport last month that killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300. Yemen’s Iran-linked Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attack.

Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr among clubs affected by continental disturbances

Uncertainty has also hit Saudi Arabian clubs competing in the AFC Champions League Elite, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr among those experiencing an interruption to their continental campaign.Al-Nassr’s home match against Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates was postponed after the visitors failed to travel to Riyadh. The club’s previous home game in the competition against Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana was also delayed by an hour after a security alert was issued due to reports of rocket attacks.Ronaldo was subsequently left out of the Al-Nassr squad for the away match against Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan. However, head coach Ange Postecoglou described the decision as rest, citing schedule and travel demands rather than directly linking it to the safety situation.“We rested Cristiano, Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan given the pressure of the matches and the amount of travel,” Postecoglou said.Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in a Saudi Pro League match last week to take his career tally to 985 goals. Al-Nassr are also aiming for their first Asian continental title despite a difficult start to their Champions League campaign.

The wider sports calendar has been affected by regional uncertainty

The postponement of the Asian Cup is the latest major sporting setback linked to the conflict. The Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix was canceled this season, while the Bahrain race was moved to Malaysia. Meanwhile, the WTA Finals moved from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells in the United States.The immediate priority for the SPL is to adapt to the revised Asian Cup calendar while managing an already disrupted domestic season. The league has rescheduled several games for logistical reasons, and the latest decision adds another adjustment to its 2026-27 schedule.