Soccer takes a hit as AFC postpones 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia by nearly a year amid heightened Middle East tensions

A close-up view of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 final ball before the AFC Asian Cup final match between Jordan and Qatar at Lusail Stadium on February 10, 2024 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo/Getty Images) The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed the 2027 Asian Cup by almost a year due to conflict in the Middle East and security concerns in Saudi Arabia, which is set to host the tournament.A number of sporting events in Saudi Arabia have been canceled or postponed in recent weeks following Houthi attacks on the country.The AFC said in a statement on Tuesday that it had decided to move the start date of the tournament from January 7 to December 23, 2027, after consulting with the Saudi organizers.The Asian Cup was originally scheduled to take place from January 7 to February 5 next year. The new dates for the Continental Exhibition are from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028.The organizing committee “approved the postponement of the national team’s flagship tournament in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including significant logistical complications and travel disruptions,” the AFC said in a statement.“Exceptional circumstances have been created for the organization and running of the competition as originally planned, so the postponement is necessary in the interests of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders.”The revised dates, 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028, will be submitted to FIFA for approval.The decision ends months of speculation about a possible delay. Until recently, Saudi organizers maintained that the tournament would go ahead as planned.Just last week, Saudi officials released kick-off times and finalized the tournament schedule, a move aimed at reassuring Asian football federations that preparations are on track. This comes despite deadly attacks in Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels.Last month, organizing committee spokesman Muhammed Q. Alghamdi told members at an AFC meeting in Tokyo that “everyday life goes on in Saudi Arabia” despite regional hostilities.Ahead of that meeting, AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa hinted that the Asian Cup could be postponed by a year if necessary, saying “we can wait until the end of November” to make a decision.The month-long tournament was to feature 24 teams playing at eight venues in three cities: Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar. Iran were drawn in a group with Syria, China and Kyrgyzstan for the league stage.