Saudi Air Strikes Raise Security Concerns for January Asian Cup

Air strikes on King Khalid International Airport killed at least 14 people and wounded over 300, casting doubt on the January 7 kickoff of the Asian Cup.

Air strikes conducted by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on King Khalid International Airport over the weekend killed at least 14 people and wounded more than 300. The escalation has prompted Football Australia to monitor the safety of the Asian Cup, which is scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia on January 7. King Khalid International Airport remains closed until October 17, while carriers Etihad and Qatar Airways have postponed all flights to Riyadh.

Security concerns have already impacted regional football schedules. On Monday night, an Asian Champions League match featuring Al Nassr was delayed by one hour following a security alert caused by an intercepted Houthi missile. Additionally, South Korea’s football federation is currently reviewing scenarios for its senior men's national team friendly against Saudi Arabia scheduled for the November international break.

Football Australia spokesman confirmed that the organization's security team is conducting risk assessments for the tournament. While the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has not yet commented on contingency plans, the tournament could potentially be delayed by 12 months to January 2028 if the conflict persists. Such a postponement would impact Socceroos coach Tony Popovic, whose current contract runs through the 2027 Asian Cup.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has advised Australians to reconsider their need to travel to Saudi Arabia. Other major sporting events in the region have already been affected, including the cancellation of the Jeddah F1 Grand Prix in April and the removal of the Saudi Arabia event from the World Rally Championship calendar in November.