The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed the AFC Asian Cup by 12 months due to security concerns related to repeated attacks from the militant Houthis based in Yemen.
The 2027 edition of the Asian Cup, scheduled to take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027, will not be held from December 23, 2027 to January 21, 2028, said the Local Organising Committee of the event in a press note.
The AFC Asian Cup, which is held every four years, is the top-most men's football even contested by national teams to decide the champions of the continent.
The militant Houthi forces have carried out a series of assaults on Saudi Arabia this year, including a missile attack on the King Khalid International Airport this month, leaving at least 13 dead.
Saudi Arabia is hoping to host its first-ever Asian Cup. Saudi last lifted the title in 1996 and is hoping to join Japan with most wins (four) in the continental event. Qatar won the last two editions.
The tension in the region led to the cancellation of the prestigious Dakar Rally, which was held continuously in the deserts of Saudi Arabia since 2020.
Last month, FIA, the world governing body for motor sports, announced that the final round of the World Rally Championship 2026 has been moved to Italy. Saudi Arabia was expected to host the 14th and final rally of the season from November 11 to 14.
In March this year, Formula 1 announced the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Grand Prix weekends due to tensions in West Asia.