Saudi Arabia Confirms January Start for 2027 Asian Cup Despite Attacks

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that the 2027 Asian Cup, hosted by Saudi Arabia, will commence on January 7 and conclude on February 5. This announcement comes amidst ongoing doubts surrounding the tournament's schedule due to recent attacks on the country and broader regional unrest.

Host nation Saudi Arabia will face Palestine in Riyadh for the opening match. Both the inaugural game and the final will take place at the 72,000-seat King Fahd Sports City Stadium. Over 29 days, a total of 51 matches will be played across eight different venues.

Highlights

• The 2027 Asian Cup is set to begin on January 7 in Saudi Arabia and end on February 5.
• The opening match and final will be held at Riyadh's King Fahd Sports City Stadium.
• The tournament proceeds despite ongoing attacks and regional security concerns.
• The President of the Japan Football Association had expressed doubts about the feasibility of hosting due to security.
• The 2027 Dakar Rally was moved out of Saudi Arabia due to "recent developments in the region."

Details

According to the AFC, 24 participating federations will compete in the 2027 Asian Cup. However, several federations have voiced concerns regarding the security situation in the region. Earlier, organizers of the Dakar Rally also announced that the 2027 race would be moved out of Saudi Arabia due to "recent developments in the region."

Last week, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, President of the Japan Football Association, stated that the ongoing security situation in Saudi Arabia would make it challenging to host the Asian Cup as scheduled. Miyamoto said, "Based on what I’ve learned from the news, the situation is still unsafe, so at this point, I don’t think it would be easy to hold the [Asian] Cup there." The Saudi side, however, emphasized that their top priority is the safety of players, fans, and all attendees.

Saudi Arabia has recently seen several major sporting events canceled or postponed due to escalating attacks by Yemen's Houthis. Over the past weekend, the Saudi-led coalition intercepted a barrage of projectiles from Yemen targeting cities across the kingdom. The Saudi Civil Defence reported that shrapnel from two intercepted ballistic missiles, suspected to have been fired by Yemen's Houthis, fell in areas including Jeddah, Taif, and Rabigh.

Why it matters

This decision highlights Saudi Arabia's determination to host a major international sporting event despite ongoing regional tensions and security concerns. The successful organization of the tournament will serve as a significant test for the country's preparations to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. However, the safety of participating nations and athletes will remain the most critical issue throughout the event.