KUALA LAMPUR: The AFC issued a statement Tuesday saying after extensive consultations with Saudi organizers it had decided to push the tournament kickoff back from Jan. 7 to Dec. 23.
Asia Football Confederation President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, left, poses with FIFA President Gianni Infantino during an inauguration ceremony for the new building of the Asia Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018.
Asia Football Confederation President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, left, poses with FIFA President Gianni Infantino during an inauguration ceremony for the new building of the Asia Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018.
The Asian Football Confederation has postponed the 2027 Asian Cup by almost a year because of the conflict in the Middle East and recent deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The AFC issued a statement Tuesday saying after extensive consultations with Saudi organizers it had decided to push the tournament kickoff back from Jan. 7 to Dec. 23.
The organizing committee "approved to reschedule the flagship national team tournament in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions," the AFC said in a statement.
"Exceptional circumstances have been created for the organization and delivery of the competition as originally scheduled, making the postponement necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders."
The new dates — Dec. 23, 2027 to Jan. 21, 2028 — will be submitted to FIFA for approval.
The decision to delay the tournament ends months of speculation about a postponement which, until recently, had been rejected by local organizers.
As recently as last week, Saudi officials released the kickoff times and finalized schedule for the 2027 tournament in a move aimed at assuring continental soccer federations that planning was on track.
Muhammed Q. Alghamdi, a spokesman for the organizing committee, last month told members at an Asian Football Confederation meeting in Tokyo that "daily life is ongoing in Saudi Arabia," despite the regional hostilities.
Before that meeting, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa had indicated 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 monthlong tournament was scheduled to feature 24 teams playing matches in eight venues across three cites — Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar. Iran qualified and has been grouped with Syria, China and Kyrgyzstan for the league stage.
Asia's marquee continental club tournament — the AFC Champions League Elite — has been disrupted by the conflict.
A game between Cristiano Ronaldo ’s Al-Nassr and Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana was delayed on Oct. 12 after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued a security alert.
An Al-Nassr’s home game in Riyadh last week against Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates was postponed because the visiting team didn't travel.
Among other major sports events that have been moved or canceled in Saudi is the WTA Finals, the season-ending event in women’s tennis, which moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells, California.
