The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Tuesday that the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia is postponed, Naharnet reported. The start moves from 7 January to 23 December. The new dates of 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028 will be submitted to FIFA for approval.

The AFC said it decided after extensive consultations with Saudi organizers. It cited developments in the region, including logistical complexities and travel disruptions. In its statement, the AFC said: "Exceptional circumstances have been created for the organization and delivery of the competition as originally scheduled, making the postponement necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders."

Naharnet reported that the delay follows recent deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia. The outlet described the tournament as the biggest sports event postponed because of the Middle East conflict.

The competition was to feature 24 teams across eight venues in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, Naharnet reported. Iran qualified and is grouped with Syria, China and Kyrgyzstan. Saudi Arabia, Australia, South Korea and Japan were top seeds in other groups.

Local organizers had rejected a postponement until recently, Naharnet reported. Last month, organizing committee spokesman Muhammed Q. Alghamdi told members at an AFC meeting in Tokyo that "daily life is ongoing in Saudi Arabia". AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa had said a one-year delay was possible and that a final decision might come in late November, according to the outlet.

Naharnet reported that other sports events have been affected by the Iran war. According to the outlet, the Saudi Formula 1 Grand Prix was canceled this season. It said the Bahrain race moved to Malaysia. It also said the WTA Finals moved from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells, California. Formula 1 keeps a Saudi Grand Prix on its 2027 schedule for March, the outlet said.

Naharnet also reported that AFC Champions League Elite matches have been disrupted. It said an Al-Nassr game against Neftchi Fergana was delayed on 12 October after a Civil Defense security alert. According to the outlet, a home game against Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates last week was postponed when the visitors did not travel to Riyadh.

The postponement forces national federations to make coaching decisions, Naharnet reported. Australia's Tony Popovic took a shorter deal through the Asian Cup. "It was my choice to go until the Asian Cup," Popovic said of turning down a four-year extension in September.

South Korea's interim coach, Robert Moreno, has a contract through November with a possible two- or three-month extension, according to the outlet. Japan extended Hajime Moriyasu through the Asian Cup, with Go Oiwa due to succeed him. "Mr. Moriyasu has already shown that he can win in Asia, and we hope he can do so again by winning the Asian Cup," Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said when the extension was announced. Iraq's Graham Arnold signed an extension designed to run through the tournament.

The new dates have yet to be approved by FIFA.