Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia could be postponed by a year amid Houthi attacks

What the report says

The Asian Cup scheduled to be hosted by Saudi Arabia in January could be delayed by a year, according to the Asian Football Confederation, as the kingdom faces a series of Houthi attacks. Al Jazeera, citing AFP, reported that AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said the tournament would be moved “if we need to,” though organisers are not rushing to decide. The event is currently planned to open on January 7 in Jeddah, Riyadh and al-Khobar.

The comments come amid rising security concerns in the region. The article said Saudi Arabia has recently been hit by sustained attacks in an escalation from Yemen’s Houthis. It also noted that a Saudi Civil Defence interception of a missile toward Riyadh delayed an Asian Champions League match involving Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, while several domestic football matches in the country were postponed this week.

Al Khalifa said officials could wait until the end of November before making a final call and stressed that the situation remains under review. He indicated that the competition could be shifted to 2028 if necessary. Australia, one of the 24 teams qualified for the tournament, said it was monitoring developments closely.

The report also said South Korea’s players’ association voiced concern about safety, reflecting broader unease around holding major sporting events in the current security environment. More generally, international sports bodies often weigh event logistics against regional instability, and this case highlights how conflict can affect scheduling across football and other sports.