The Asian Cup, due to be held in Saudi Arabia in early 2027, has been postponed because of a series of deadly attacks on the host country, the BBC reports. The Asian Football Confederation announced the decision on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

The 24-team tournament was scheduled for January 7 to February 5. It will now run from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, the BBC and Reuters report.

The confederation said the change was made "in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions," the BBC reports. "The new dates of the tournament will be presented to FIFA for approval," it said, according to Reuters.

In October, a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi movement on Riyadh's airport killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, the BBC reports.

The tournament was pitched as an early rehearsal for Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup, Reuters reports. Other events in the country have also been hit, Reuters says. Golf's Asian Tour has postponed the Saudi International indefinitely, and FIFA postponed its FIFAe Finals in Jeddah.

It is the second Asian Cup in a row to be postponed, the BBC reports. The 2023 tournament was moved to 2024 and to Qatar from China because of the Covid pandemic.

The new dates mean several Premier League players will not miss part of the current season, the BBC reports. They include Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki of Aston Villa and Liverpool's Wataru Endo, the BBC says.

What we know: The confederation has set new dates for the tournament.
What we don't know: Whether FIFA will approve the new dates.