The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), in agreement with the local organizing committee in Saudi Arabia and the country's football federation, has changed the dates of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The organization's press service reported this.
Originally scheduled to be held from January 7 to February 5, 2027, the tournament will now take place from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028. The change of dates was caused by logistical complexities in the region, travel-related restrictions, and emergency situations.
According to reports, the issue of postponing the tournament to a later date due to the deterioration of the security situation in Saudi Arabia has been discussed since October of this year. AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa previously stated that the confederation is monitoring the situation and, if necessary, could postpone the Asian Cup. He also mentioned the possibility of holding the tournament in 2028.
For reference, the 19th Asian Cup will be held in the Saudi cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al-Khobar. Twenty-four national teams will participate in it. The Uzbekistan national team is placed in Group B alongside Jordan, North Korea, and Bahrain.
