AFC and Saudi Arabia to review Asian Cup 2027 plans amid regional uncertainty

The AFC Asian Cup 2027 will undergo a review as Saudi Arabia and the Asian Football Confederation assess the impact of developments in the region on preparations for the tournament.

The competition is still scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia, with organisers working towards staging it between 7 January and 5 February next year. However, reports have suggested it could be moved to 2028 to allow conditions to stabilise.

There has been no indication that Saudi Arabia could lose the right to host the tournament.

The Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiya reported that the Asian Football Confederation has not made any decision on a postponement. It said the continental governing body was continuing to coordinate with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation on the basis that the competition would go ahead on its announced dates.

The AFC is monitoring the latest developments and assessing how they could affect the organisation of the event before deciding whether any changes are needed.

Saudi Arabia’s local organising committee is due to meet representatives of the relevant AFC bodies on 15 November. The meeting will examine the current situation, review the latest developments and consider the surrounding circumstances before the next steps are determined.

Organisers remain focused on delivering the tournament according to the existing schedule. A different outcome, including a change to the dates, remains among the options that could be considered after the assessments and discussions.

A fixture listing included in the report also records Saudi Arabia as due to play South Korea in a friendly on 13 November 2026.