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With the possibility of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia next January, being postponed by one year due to local political instability, Son Heung-min's (34, LAFC) "Last Dance" schedule has also been thrown into uncertainty.
According to Reuters, AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa stated at the International Football Federation (FIFA) Council held in Zurich, Switzerland on the 15th (Korean time), regarding the possibility of postponing the Asian Cup, "We must monitor the local situation until the end of November," adding, "If necessary, we are considering making a decisive move to postpone the tournament by one year to 2028."
Host country Saudi Arabia is currently facing serious security threats due to recent attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels. On the 10th, King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh was hit by a missile attack, killing 13 people and injuring over 300. Subsequently, until the 16th, more than 20 airstrikes continued around the airport area, resulting in a total of over 350 casualties.
Due to deteriorating political conditions, major local sporting events are also facing disruptions one after another. The tennis tournament "Six Kings Slam," scheduled to be held this month, has been postponed to late December, and the e-sports tournament "FIFAe Finals 2026," planned to be held in Jeddah, has also been temporarily postponed. The Saudi Pro League has also delayed the schedule of three regular league matches, including a match involving Al Nassr, which Cristiano Ronaldo belongs to.
This 2027 Asian Cup, approaching next January, is effectively Son Heung-min's last Asian Cup stage as captain of the South Korea national football team. South Korea is aiming for its first championship in 67 years since 1960, and domestic fans are also placing great expectations on Son Heung-min's national team "Last Dance." However, with the sudden variable of a tournament postponement arising from the airstrike situation, Son Heung-min's final Asian Cup schedule has also been plunged into thick fog.
As the normal holding of the Asian Cup becomes uncertain, disruptions have arisen in the operational plans of the Korean Football Association Koo Hyeop-hoe-ui (CEO) team. The situation is such that alternative venues and opponent countries must be urgently sought for the two-match away series in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, which was being promoted during the November A-match period.
Furthermore, if the Asian Cup is postponed by one year, the interim manager system of Robert Moreno, who contracted on the condition of taking charge until the finals, could also be terminated early after the November A-matches.
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
