The impact of the escalating conflict in the Middle East on Saudi football has widened, with the Saudi Pro League (SPL) postponing Matchweek 13 after the 2027 AFC Asian Cup was pushed back by almost a year amid security concerns and logistical challenges in the region.The SPL announced the decision on Tuesday, just two days before the scheduled start of the gameweek, saying it would review the domestic fixture calendar following the change in dates of the continental tournament. The new dates for the postponed league matches will be announced once the review is complete.“The decision comes as part of a wider review of the 2026-27 RSL (Roshn Saudi League) fixture schedule, with the revised Asian Cup dates creating additional flexibility in the domestic football calendar,” the league said in a statement.The postponement follows the AFC’s decision to move the Asian Cup from its original January 7-February 5, 2027 window to December 23, 2027-January 21, 2028. The tournament, which will feature 24 teams across eight venues in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, has been affected by developments in the region, including security concerns, travel disruptions and logistical complications.The decision came after months of uncertainty over whether Saudi Arabia could host the competition as planned. The situation has been particularly tense following deadly attacks on the kingdom, including a strike on Riyadh’s international airport last month that killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attack.
Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr among clubs affected by continental disruptions
The uncertainty has also affected Saudi clubs competing in the AFC Champions League Elite, with Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Al-Nassr among those experiencing interruptions to their continental campaign.Al-Nassr’s home fixture against UAE side Al-Wasl was postponed after the visitors did not travel to Riyadh. The club’s previous home match in the competition, against Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana, had also been delayed by an hour after a security alert was issued amid reports of missile attacks.Ronaldo was subsequently left out of Al-Nassr’s squad for the away match against Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor. However, head coach Ange Postecoglou described the decision as a rest, citing the demands of the schedule and travel rather than directly linking it to the security situation.“We’ve rested Cristiano, Kingsley Coman and Mohamed Simakan given the pressure of matches and the amount of travel involved,” Postecoglou said.Ronaldo had scored a hat-trick in a Saudi Pro League match the previous week, taking his career tally to 985 goals. Al-Nassr are also chasing their first Asian continental title, although they have made a difficult start to the Champions League campaign.
Wider sporting calendar hit by regional uncertainty
The Asian Cup postponement is the latest major sporting disruption linked to the conflict. The Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix was cancelled this season, while the Bahrain race was relocated to Malaysia. The WTA Finals, meanwhile, were moved from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells in the United States.For the SPL, the immediate priority is to accommodate the revised Asian Cup calendar while managing an already disrupted domestic season. The league has rescheduled several fixtures for logistical reasons, and the latest decision adds another adjustment to its 2026-27 schedule.
