Missile strikes on Riyadh intensify safety concerns for 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia
Asia’s leading men’s players are expressing unease about travelling to Saudi Arabia for the AFC Asian Cup in January after multiple missile strikes by the Houthis on Riyadh’s international airport in recent days killed more than a dozen people and wounded hundreds. The tournament is due to begin on 7 January, with five of the eight venues located in Riyadh and 31 matches — including the final on 5 February — scheduled in the capital.
Five of the continental competition’s eight host venues are in Riyadh and will stage 31 matches, with the home nation set to face Palestine in the tournament opener on 7 January. Eastern Saudi Arabia has also been threatened during the Iran-US conflict this year, and the city of Al Khobar, which will host seven matches including Australia v Singapore on 9 January, has been named among at-risk locations.
Fifpro has said it is monitoring the situation and acknowledged players’ concerns, with Beau Busch, president of Fifpro Asia/Oceania and chief executive of Professional Footballers Australia, stating: “The safety of players, fans and staff must be the priority and the central consideration in the planning and delivery of the AFC Asian Cup.” Busch added: “Through the PFA and Fifpro, the global players’ union, we have continued to monitor the situation and engage closely with Football Australia and external experts. Risk assessments are conducted before all camps and will continue to be critically important ahead of the Asian Cup with the ever changing security situation in the region. We will continue working with all stakeholders to ensure player safety, wellbeing and welfare remain the priority ahead of January and the upcoming November friendlies in the region.” He also noted the Socceroos are due to travel to the region in the November international window for matches against Qatar in Doha and Jordan in Amman.
Football Australia said it was “closely monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia”, that “the safety and wellbeing of our players, staff and supporters remains paramount” and that risk assessment will be a “key focus” ahead of January. “We remain in regular contact with Professional Footballers Australia and will continue our dialogue with the Asian Football Confederation regarding its plans for the tournament, guided by the advice of the Australian government,” a spokesperson said.
The Australian government’s Smartraveller website was updated on Monday to state: “We continue to advise reconsider your need to travel overall due to the security situation in Saudi Arabia.” Separately, the Japanese Football Association withdrew from the FIFAe video game World Cup due to be held in Saudi Arabia later this month, citing a comprehensive assessment of the current situation and available information regarding safety and security.
Domestic fixtures and security events have also been affected: Ange Postecoglou’s Riyadh-based Al-Nassr, which has Cristiano Ronaldo in its squad, had an Asian Champions League match delayed by an hour on Monday, while a Saudi-led military coalition said it had intercepted a missile fired by the Houthis towards Riyadh.
The Asian Football Confederation declined to comment on Tuesday. Tournament sponsorship agreements in place include Saudi-based companies Aramco, Alrajhi Bank and NEOM, and FIFA awarded the right to host the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia three years ago in an abbreviated process that was a surprise to observers.
The immediate confirmed fixtures remain the hosts’ opener against Palestine on 7 January and the tournament final scheduled for 5 February in Riyadh.