Discussion has resurfaced over whether the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia could be moved to 2028. GOAL said no official change to the tournament date had been announced.
Talk of a shift returns
GOAL said talk had resurfaced about shifting the tournament to 2028. Media figure Battal Al-Qaws also raised the issue on his programme In the Net, pointing to press reports that floated the idea of pushing the tournament back by a year.
Comments that fuelled the discussion
GOAL said comments from Asian Football Confederation president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa fuelled talk about moving the tournament to 2028. Al Khalifa had previously mentioned the possibility of staging the Asian Cup in 2028 if circumstances demanded it.
Dates already pencilled in
On 26 October, the AFC and the local organising committee signed off on the tournament's fixture list and the stadiums that will host it. The AFC and the local organising committee pencilled in 7 January to 5 February 2027 as the window for the competition.
Official position unchanged
GOAL described the matter as remaining speculation, with no official decision issued by the continental body. GOAL also said the AFC is monitoring developments before settling on a final date, and that there was no sign of any official intention to change the date for now.
