The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has postponed the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, moving the tournament to December 2027 and January 2028 because of regional developments that have caused logistical challenges and travel disruptions.

The competition, originally scheduled for January 7 to February 5, 2027, will now take place from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, subject to approval by FIFA.

The decision followed discussions between the AFC, the tournament’s Local Organising Committee and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).

The AFC said exceptional circumstances affecting preparations and the delivery of the tournament had prompted the change, which was made in the interests of participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders.

The governing body did not provide further details about the specific regional disruptions behind the decision.

The AFC thanked Saudi Arabia’s football federation and the organising committee for their continued commitment to hosting the competition.

It also said it would work with participating national associations, sponsors, broadcasters and commercial partners to minimise the impact of the revised schedule.

The tournament will remain in Saudi Arabia, with further updates to be communicated through the AFC’s official channels.

Iran is preparing to host a new four-country meeting on Afghanistan in the coming months, as regional powers continue diplomatic consultations on Afghanistan’s security, political situation and future cooperation.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei announced the plan during his weekly press briefing on Monday, November 2.

Baghaei said Tehran was making preparations for the meeting and had already conducted diplomatic visits as part of the process. However, he did not disclose the participating countries, the exact date or the proposed agenda.

Previous meetings under this format have involved Iran, Russia, China and Pakistan, with discussions focusing on regional security, counterterrorism, economic cooperation and engagement with Afghanistan’s current authorities.

The latest ministerial-level meeting among the four countries was held in New York on September 25, 2025, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The participants called for stronger regional cooperation, counterterrorism coordination, humanitarian assistance and greater economic engagement with Afghanistan.

The proposed meeting comes amid continued regional diplomatic initiatives on Afghanistan. Russia hosted the eighth Moscow Format consultations on October 5, 2026, bringing together representatives from Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and several Central Asian countries.

Discussions at the Moscow meeting covered regional security, counterterrorism, narcotics, humanitarian assistance and economic cooperation.