Asian Cup football tournament postponed due to attacks on Saudi Arabia

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SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- Asia's top men's football tournament scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia in January next year has been postponed to December, amid continued attacks on the host country by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Tuesday that the Asian Cup, originally set for Jan. 7 to Feb. 5, 2027, will instead take place from Dec. 23, 2027, to Jan. 21, 2028.

"The organizing committee for AFC Asian Cup approved to reschedule the flagship national team tournament in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions," the AFC said in a statement. "The new dates of the tournament will be presented to FIFA for approval. Exceptional circumstances have been created for the organization and delivery of the competition as originally scheduled, making the postponement necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders."

This Reuters file photo from Oct. 23, 2026, shows the logo of the Asian Football Confederation during its extraordinary congress in Tokyo. (Yonhap)

The schedule change also throws a wrinkle into the South Korean men's national team's future. The Taegeuk Warriors are currently managed by caretaker boss Robert Moreno, who was appointed in September.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) signed him through Nov. 27 but has said the Spanish tactician will be given a chance to stay on for the Asian Cup, depending on the team's performances in his first six friendly matches between September and November.

Now that the Asian Cup will be held in December, it remains to be seen if Moreno will still be given consideration for a longer stay.

The KFA has its own leadership vacuum, with the election for the next president tentatively scheduled for Dec. 18.

"It is perhaps appropriate for the next administration to appoint the next men's national team head coach," a KFA official said, with the organization currently run by its vice president, Lee Yong-soo, on an interim basis. "Once the new president comes in, then the process to hire the new coach has to start from scratch. Since we cannot afford to have coaching vacancy in the meantime, we may need to retain Moreno as the caretaker manager for a little longer."

jeeho@yna.co.kr (END)

Asian Cup football tournament postponed due to attacks on Saudi Arabia

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首尔，11月3日（韩联社）——由于也门胡塞武装持续袭击东道主沙特阿拉伯，原定于明年1月在沙特阿拉伯举行的亚洲顶级男子足球赛事已被推迟至12月举行。

亚洲足球联合会（亚足联）周二宣布，原定于2027年1月7日至2月5日举行的亚洲杯将改期至2027年12月23日至2028年1月21日举行。

亚足联在一份声明中表示：“鉴于当前亚洲地区形势的特殊性，包括后勤保障方面的诸多困难和出行中断，亚足联亚洲杯组委会已批准重新安排这项旗舰国家队赛事。新的比赛日期将提交国际足联批准。由于目前的情况特殊，按原计划组织和举办比赛已面临挑战，为了所有参赛球队、官员、观众和其他相关方的利益，推迟比赛势在必行。”

这张路透社资料照片拍摄于2026年10月23日，照片显示的是亚洲足球联合会在东京召开的特别代表大会上的标志。（韩联社）

赛程的改变也给韩国男足国家队的未来带来了变数。太极虎队目前的主教练是代理主帅罗伯特·莫雷诺，他于去年九月上任。

韩国足协（KFA）与他签约至 11 月 27 日，但表示这位西班牙战术家有机会继续执教至亚洲杯，这取决于球队在 9 月至 11 月期间的前六场友谊赛中的表现。

鉴于亚洲杯将于12月举行，莫雷诺是否还会被考虑延长执教期限还有待观察。

韩国足协目前也面临领导层空缺，下一任主席的选举暂定于 12 月 18 日举行。

一位韩国足协官员表示：“或许应该由下一任主席来任命下一任男足国家队主教练。”目前，韩国足协由副主席李容洙临时代理主席一职。“新主席上任后，新教练的招聘工作就必须从头开始。鉴于我们目前无法承受教练空缺的局面，我们可能需要让莫雷诺继续担任代理主教练一段时间。”

jeeho@yna.co.kr (完)

亚洲杯足球赛因沙特阿拉伯遭受袭击而推迟