"Asian Cup to be held in January as scheduled," despite a string of other tournaments being canceled... Saudi Arabia signals it will press ahead

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International sports events that were scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia have been successively canceled or postponed. However, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, set to open next January, is expected to proceed as planned.

Reuters reported on the 17th (Korean time), "While the attack on Riyadh, Saudi Arabia has caused disruptions to golf and cycling events, the Asian Cup will proceed as scheduled."

The local organizing committee in Saudi Arabia stated that preparations for the Asian Cup, scheduled from January to February 2027, are progressing according to the existing schedule.

Sports schedules in Saudi Arabia have been significantly shaken by recent political instability. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels recently claimed responsibility for an attack targeting Riyadh International Airport. The attack left at least 12 people dead and more than 300 injured.

The sports world was immediately affected. The Urban Cycling World Championships, which were scheduled to be held in Riyadh this November, have ultimately been canceled. After Australia withdrew its Lee Yu-ro (CEO) team over safety concerns, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) also decided not to hold the tournament.

The Australian Cycling Federation stated, "Prioritizing the safety and welfare of athletes and staff, we have decided not to send our Seon Su-gwon-e (CEO) team to the Urban World Championships in Riyadh."

The Australian government is also advising its citizens to refrain from traveling to Saudi Arabia.

The Asian Tour Saudi International, with a total prize pool of 5 million dollars (approximately 7 billion won), has been postponed indefinitely. This tournament was originally scheduled to be held at the Riyadh Golf Club in November as well.

It is not just that. The 'Six Kings Slam,' an exhibition event featuring world-class tennis stars such as Novak Djokovic (Serbia), was originally scheduled for Riyadh in October but has been postponed to December.

The International Football Federation (FIFA) has also pushed back the FIFAe Finals 2026, which was planned to be held in Jeddah, to a later date. Some countries, including Japan and Brazil, have withdrawn their participation in the FIFAe tournament citing safety issues.

Naturally, questions have arisen regarding whether the Asian Cup will be held as normal.

AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa also stated that he is monitoring the recent situation and that it is possible to postpone the 2027 Asian Cup to 2028 if necessary.

However, the stance of the local organizing committee in Saudi Arabia was different. According to reports, the committee stated, "Preparations across all organizational and operational areas, including work related to stadiums, facilities, and support services, are progressing according to the approved schedule."

It further emphasized, "We will continue to monitor the situation regarding the tournament and ensure that appropriate conditions are in place for a successful hosting."

As of now, the policy is to hold the tournament next January without any schedule changes.

The 2027 Asian Cup is scheduled to be held in major Saudi cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Qobar, with the participation of 24 countries. The opening day is January 7, 2027, and the final match is on February 5.

Amid political instability in Saudi Arabia, major international sports events are facing successive disruptions, but the local organizing committee maintains that it will stick to the existing schedule for the Asian Cup.

Reuters explained, "The Saudi government has invested heavily in sports through its sovereign wealth fund (PIF) over the past few years," adding, "This Asian Cup has been viewed as a kind of pre-rehearsal ahead of hosting the 2034 Football World Cup."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original