Asian Cup on track, organisers say, as golf's Saudi International is postponed

The local organisers of the Asian Cup said on Friday that the football tournament is on track to take place in Saudi Arabia early next year, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

Golf's Asian Tour has postponed the Saudi International indefinitely. Both outlets report that the decision followed deadly violence in Riyadh. Al Jazeera describes a series of attacks on the city. Reuters refers to a deadly attack.

Details reported by Al Jazeera

According to Al Jazeera, the deadliest attack took place on Saturday at Riyadh's international airport. It killed 14 people and wounded more than 300. Al Jazeera does not say who provided these figures. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe the other attacks in the series.

The Saudi International is a $5m event sponsored by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Al Jazeera reports. It is the Asian Tour's flagship event and had been scheduled for 18–21 November at Riyadh Golf Club. The reports do not give a new date.

The 24-team Asian Cup is scheduled to run from 7 January to 5 February. Al Jazeera says it was pitched as an early rehearsal for Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Al Jazeera also reports disruption to other events:

• Australia withdrew its team on Friday from the urban cycling World Championships, scheduled for Riyadh in early November.
• The Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament in Riyadh has moved from October to December.
• FIFA on Thursday postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026 video game competition in Jeddah to an unspecified date.
• Three Saudi Pro League matches were postponed this week, including one featuring Al-Nassr.
• Al-Nassr's AFC Champions League game on Monday was delayed by an hour after Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence said it had intercepted a missile fired towards Riyadh.

What each side says

• Houthi group (Yemen): claimed responsibility for Saturday's airport attack, according to Al Jazeera. The reports do not quote the claim or say how it was made.
• Asian Cup local organising committee: in a statement quoted by Al Jazeera, it said: "Preparations across all organisational and operational areas are progressing according to the approved schedule, including work on venues, facilities and supporting services." It added that it "will continue to monitor developments relevant to the tournament and ensure the appropriate conditions are in place for its successful delivery".
• AFC chief Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa: said earlier this week that postponing the tournament until 2028 was possible if necessary, according to Al Jazeera. The reports do not include a formal AFC decision.
• Asian Tour: "The decision to postpone was taken following an assessment of the organisational and logistical challenges associated with hosting the tournament and ensuring the event is delivered to a standard befitting its international stature," its statement said, according to Al Jazeera.
• AusCycling: withdrew the team "with the safety and wellbeing of our athletes and staff our highest priority", Al Jazeera reports.
• Australian government: advises travellers to reconsider trips to Saudi Arabia, and to King Khalid International Airport in particular, "due to recent security incidents".

The reports do not include a statement from Saudi authorities on the airport attack beyond the Civil Defence missile interception.

About the sources

Vocemundi reviewed only a summary of the Reuters report. Al Jazeera's opening closely mirrors Reuters' wording, so the two may not be fully independent. Al Jazeera's subheadline calls the golf event the "Saudi Invitational"; its main text says "Saudi International".

Analysis

The reports point to two different responses from sports bodies. Some organisers have postponed, moved or withdrawn from events, while the Asian Cup committee says it is keeping its original dates and monitoring developments. The AFC chief's remark that a 2028 postponement was possible shows that alternatives have at least been discussed, though the reports describe no formal decision. Several outcomes remain open: the tournament could proceed as planned, be rescheduled, or face further review. Much may depend on how the security situation develops and on official assessments, which the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not detail.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.