Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has raised significant concerns regarding Saudi Arabia’s ability to host the 2027 Asian Cup as planned. During the Asian Football Confederation’s extraordinary congress in Tokyo, Miyamoto expressed doubt, stating that the current security climate makes holding the tournament there a complex challenge.
Regional instability, marked by escalating attacks from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, has already disrupted several major sporting events across the kingdom. Miyamoto noted that he recently met with Saudi officials, who emphasized that the safety of fans, players, and attendees remains their highest priority. He added that the Saudi side is coordinating with the AFC, though confirming the tournament’s viability will require further time to assess the situation.
Recent security incidents have prompted widespread scheduling changes. A deadly strike on Riyadh’s international airport, which resulted in at least 12 fatalities and over 300 injuries, led to the indefinite postponement of the Asian Tour’s Saudi International golf event and the cancellation of the Urban World Championships in cycling. Additional disruptions include the rescheduling of the Six Kings Slam tennis tournament from October to December and the indefinite postponement of FIFA’s 2026 video game competition in Jeddah.
While AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa recently suggested that a delay until 2028 is a potential contingency, the local organizing committee maintains that preparations remain on track. The committee stated last week that work on venues, facilities, and operational services is progressing as scheduled, with officials continuously monitoring conditions to ensure the tournament can be delivered successfully. According to “They, They would work with the AFC to decide whether the tournament can go ahead, so they did mention that it would take some time (to make that decision).”. According to asian football chief Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, Last week a postponement until 2028 remained a possibility if necessary, but the local organising committee (LOC) later said it was sticking to the original schedul. “(The LOC) will continue to monitor developments relevant to the tournament and ensure the appropriate conditions are in place for its successful delivery.”.
The Asian Cup represents a pivotal component of Saudi Arabia’s recent surge in sports investment via the Public Investment Fund. The continental event was specifically positioned as a major operational rehearsal for the country’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Currently, the tournament is slated to run from January 7 through February 5, 2027. The Saudi government has invested heavily in sport through its Public Investment Fund (PIF) in recent years and the Asian Cup was pitched as an early rehearsal for hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
