Is 'Son Heung-min's Last Dance' Okay? Unprecedented Possibility of Asian Cup Postponement... 'Barrage of Fire' Amid Middle East War 'Severe'

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, widely considered to be Son Heung-min's (34, LAFC) last dance, faces a critical crisis of being completely canceled or postponed. As the security situation in the Middle East has deteriorated extremely, including missile strikes on Riyadh, the capital of host country Saudi Arabia, the AFC has officially left open the option of postponing the tournament schedule by one year to 2028.

Global media outlet 'Reuters' reported on the 15th (Korean time), "Due to the aftermath of recent consecutive attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, the tennis event Six Kings Slam has been abruptly postponed to December," adding, "The AFC is also not ruling out the option of postponing the 2027 Asian Cup to 2028."

According to local reports, last weekend, Riyadh International Airport in the Saudi capital was attacked by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 300. This is the most devastating loss of life among attacks carried out in Saudi Arabia over the past decade or so.

Even as a barrage of fire poured down, with 10 attacks occurring at five airports within Saudi Arabia resulting in 20 deaths, a major warning light has been turned on for hosting the Asian Cup, which was considered a key test before bidding for the 2034 World Cup. Initially, this Asian Cup was scheduled to be held from January 7, 2027, with 24 countries participating in eight stadiums across three Saudi cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Qobar.

However, AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, who attended the International Football Federation (FIFA) Council held in Zurich, Switzerland, revealed, "We will not rush to make a decision," stating, "We can wait until the end of November. The situation in the region can change rapidly, and we must closely monitor the developments. If necessary, we may postpone the tournament by one year to 2028."

Due to security crises in Saudi Arabia, not only has a tennis tournament been postponed, but the Japan Football Association has declared its non-participation in the FIFAe World Cup esports event to be held in Jeddah, and the Australian Football Association is activating its security team, freezing the entire sports industry.

Concerns within the Korean football community have also reached their peak. The Korea Professional Football Players' Association stated on the 15th, "With the international airport in Riyadh, the Saudi capital and Asian Cup host city, being attacked, concerns for the safety of participating players have reached an extreme," adding, "We urge the implementation of effective protection measures."

Lee Keun-ho Seon Su-hyeop (Chairman) emphasized, "Players' lives and safety are fundamental rights that cannot be compromised under any circumstances," stating, "There must never be a situation where players have to take risks just to play in matches." Kim Hoon-gi, Secretary-General of the Players' Association, also pointed out, "The Korea Football Association should recognize the seriousness of the issue and demand safety inspections of the host venue and strong player protection measures from the AFC." The Players' Association plans to discuss response strategies in coordination with the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) and Asian-Oceanian players' associations.

Korean football, which is organizing the national team under interim manager Roberto Moreno, also finds itself in a difficult position. The Korea Football Association had been promoting friendly matches away in the Middle East during the upcoming November international match period to prepare for the Saudi Arabian Asian Cup finals next January, but with the local situation fluctuating wildly, it has become unavoidable to comprehensively re-examine not only the schedule of friendly matches but also the plan to participate in the finals.

This Asian Cup has been considered the final stage for captain Son Heung-min, who is 34 years old and entering his twilight years, to challenge for a major trophy wearing the Taeguk mark. However, with the possibility of postponing the Asian Cup to 2028 being mentioned amid armed conflicts and bombing disasters spreading across the Middle East, the scenario for Son Heung-min's farewell match for the national team has also plunged into a huge fog.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original