AFC postpones Saudi-hosted 2027 Asian Cup to late December 2027
The Asian Football Confederation moved the Saudi-hosted 2027 Asian Cup from January to December 2027, citing exceptional regional circumstances.
This summary was written by AI to complete the context; it is not based on a current source.
On 3 November 2026, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the continent's governing football body, announced that the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia would be postponed. The tournament had been scheduled for 7 January to 5 February 2027. It was moved to a window starting on 23 December 2027 and ending on 21 January 2028.
The AFC pointed to exceptional circumstances in the region. Media reports linked the decision to security concerns after recent attacks on Saudi Arabia attributed to the Houthis, the Yemen-based armed group, and to the wider Middle East conflict. Saudi Arabia remained the host, and the 24-team format did not change. The new dates were reported to still need approval from FIFA, world football's governing body.
The delay mattered for the teams that had qualified. National sides had planned friendlies as preparation for a tournament now almost a year away, and security worries in the region made some of those matches harder to hold. That is the background to Jordan's friendly programme being disrupted.
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Jordan friendlies amid Middle East security concerns · 3 updates
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