2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia postponed amid Middle East turmoil
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2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia postponed amid Middle East turmoil
Seth Vertelney, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
·
1 min read
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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)announcedthat the 2027 Asian Cup has been postponed amid deadly attacks in host country Saudi Arabia.
The competition was set to be held from Jan. 7 to Feb. 5, 2027, and will now take place from Dec. 23, 2027, to Jan. 21, 2028, pending FIFA approval.
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The postponement was made "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.
The Middle East has been roiled by instability following the U.S. and Israel's decision to launch attacks on Iran in February.
The conflict has increasingly affected Saudi Arabia, where the Houthis, a Yemeni militia group backed by Iran, have launched multiple drone and missile strikes on Saudi airports and energy infrastructure.
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(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
19) Joao Neves– Portugal & Paris Saint-Germain
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18) Marc Cucurella– Spain & Real Madrid/Chelsea
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17) Vinicius Jr.– Brazil & Real Madrid
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16) Ferran Torres– Spain & PSG/Barcelona
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15) Declan Rice– England & Arsenal
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14) Vitinha– Portugal & Paris Saint-Germain
(Jason Cairnduff, Action Images via Reuters)
13) Achraf Hakimi– Morocco & Paris Saint-Germain
(Bernadett Szabo, REUTERS)
12) Pau Cubarsi– Spain & Barcelona
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11) Jude Bellingham– England & Real Madrid
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10) Fabian Ruiz– Spain & Paris Saint-Germain
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9) Michael Olise– France & Bayern Munich
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8) Erling Haaland– Norway & Manchester City
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7) Ousmane Dembele– France & Paris Saint-Germain
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6) Khvicha Kvaratskhelia– Georgia & Paris Saint-Germain
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5) Lionel Messi– Argentina & Inter Miami
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
4) Rodri– Spain & Barcelona/Manchester City
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3) Lamine Yamal– Spain & Barcelona
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2) Kylian Mbappe– France & Real Madrid
(JAMES LANG, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
1) Harry Kane– England & Bayern Munich
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20) Willian Pacho– Ecuador & Paris Saint-Germain
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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20) Willian Pacho– Ecuador & Paris Saint-Germain
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
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19) Joao Neves– Portugal & Paris Saint-Germain
(Pedro Nunes, REUTERS)
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18) Marc Cucurella– Spain & Real Madrid/Chelsea
(Vincent Carchietta, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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17) Vinicius Jr.– Brazil & Real Madrid
(Marco Bello, REUTERS)
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16) Ferran Torres– Spain & PSG/Barcelona
(Mike Segar, REUTERS)
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15) Declan Rice– England & Arsenal
(Angelika Warmuth, REUTERS)
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14) Vitinha– Portugal & Paris Saint-Germain
(Jason Cairnduff, Action Images via Reuters)
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13) Achraf Hakimi– Morocco & Paris Saint-Germain
(Bernadett Szabo, REUTERS)
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12) Pau Cubarsi– Spain & Barcelona
(Hannah McKay, REUTERS)
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11) Jude Bellingham– England & Real Madrid
(Mike Segar, REUTERS)
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10) Fabian Ruiz– Spain & Paris Saint-Germain
(Stephane Mahe, REUTERS)
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9) Michael Olise– France & Bayern Munich
(Angelika Warmuth, REUTERS)
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8) Erling Haaland– Norway & Manchester City
(Dylan Martinez, REUTERS)
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7) Ousmane Dembele– France & Paris Saint-Germain
(Andrew Boyers, REUTERS)
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6) Khvicha Kvaratskhelia– Georgia & Paris Saint-Germain
(Stephanie Lecocq, REUTERS)
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5) Lionel Messi– Argentina & Inter Miami
(BRETT DAVIS, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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4) Rodri– Spain & Barcelona/Manchester City
(Marcelo del Pozo, REUTERS)
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3) Lamine Yamal– Spain & Barcelona
(Albert Gea, REUTERS)
19/20
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2) Kylian Mbappe– France & Real Madrid
(JAMES LANG, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters)
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1) Harry Kane– England & Bayern Munich
(Paul Childs, REUTERS)
In October, a Houthi attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
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Per Reuters, around 86% of scheduled flights at King Khalid International Airport were cancelled between Oct. 8 and Oct. 25.
As a result of the travel instability, multiple sporting events set for Saudi Arabia have been moved or postponed recently, including the Six Kings Slam tennis event and the Saudi International golf tournament.
This is the second straight Asian Cup to be postponed. The 2023 edition was originally set for China, but was moved to Qatar and held in 2024 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defending champion Qatar retained its title after defeating Jordan 3–1 in the final.
