The draw for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed to May 9 in Riyadh, following disruptions to regional sporting events due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, as announced by the Asian Football Confederation on Wednesday.
Initially set for April 11, the draw will now take place in the historic At-Turaif District of Diriyah. The AFC explained that the delay was necessary to guarantee the active involvement of all relevant stakeholders and member associations.
Numerous sporting events in the area have been rescheduled or cancelled due to the heightened tensions caused by recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran.
Saudi Arabia is primed to host the 24-team continental championship for the first time ever, running from January 7 to February 5. With 23 out of 24 teams already confirmed, the draw will categorise the qualified nations into six groups of four.
The final slot for qualification will be determined on June 4, when Lebanon goes head-to-head with Yemen in a play-off. Defending champions Qatar have already booked their place in the finals, joined by four-time winners Japan and fellow World Cup qualifiers South Korea, Iran, Jordan, Australia, and Uzbekistan.
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