Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which will be hosted by Saudi Arabia, has been postponed. Instead of the previously scheduled dates of 7 January to 5 February 2027, the tournament will now take place from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on 3 November.
The decision followed consultations with the local organising committee for the 2027 Asian Cup and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).
The AFC said the rescheduling was prompted by exceptional circumstances related to developments in the region. Factors influencing the decision included significant logistical challenges and disruptions to transport links.
According to the confederation, holding the competition on the originally approved dates had become difficult. The revised schedule, it said, would better accommodate the interests of national teams, officials, fans and other tournament participants.
The updated Asian Cup dates will be submitted to the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) for approval.
The AFC thanked the SAFF and the local organising committee for their commitment to hosting the competition. The confederation also said it would continue working with all participants and partners to minimise the impact of the change to the tournament calendar.
