The 2027 Asian Cup is the latest major sporting event to be delayed amid concerns about missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement. The 24-team football tournament, due to be held in Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February next year, will now take place from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028.

Sporting events across the region have also been affected by the US-Iran conflict. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends were cancelled in April, while this year’s races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are now uncertain. If both are called off, F1 would lose four of its 24 events this season.

Football has largely continued in Saudi Arabia, but several domestic matches have been postponed. The Saudi Pro League called off this weekend’s full round of fixtures after the Asian Cup delay, saying the calendar would be adjusted to distribute matches more evenly. In the AFC Champions League, Al-Nassr did not travel to Uzbekistan, while UAE club Al-Wasl also declined to travel to Saudi Arabia for its match against Al-Nassr. Both fixtures are to be rearranged.

F1 is still planning to race in Qatar on 27–29 November and Abu Dhabi on 4–6 December, following security assurances from government sources. However, some people in the sport remain concerned. If conditions worsen, the races could be replaced by a single event in Imola, Italy. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are also scheduled to host races in March 2027, but both are at risk; Malaysia has been discussed as a possible alternative for Bahrain.

Other motorsport events have already changed. The 2027 Dakar Rally has been moved from Saudi Arabia to Portugal and Morocco, while Rally Saudi Arabia, scheduled for 12–15 November, has been cancelled. MotoGP is still due to race this weekend in Qatar, although Yamaha will not take part after being advised against travelling from Japan.

Tennis has also been affected. The Six Kings Slam in Riyadh has been postponed by two months and is now scheduled for 27–30 December. The 2026 WTA Finals, meanwhile, will be held at Indian Wells in the United States after the parties agreed to end Saudi Arabia’s hosting arrangement early.

A boxing card in Saudi Arabia went ahead last week, but Lindolfo Delgado withdrew from his planned IBF lightweight title fight against Arthur Biyarslanov over safety concerns. A Zuffa Boxing event featuring Carlos Adames and Welsh fighter Gerome Warburton remains scheduled for Riyadh on 14 November.

WWE’s Crown Jewel 2026 is also still set to take place this weekend, but the event has been moved from Kingdom Arena to the ANB Arena. Elsewhere, the FIFAe Finals in Jeddah and the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Riyadh were cancelled. The PIF Saudi International golf tournament was called off, and the Saudi Arabia T100 and World Triathlon Cup in Jeddah have been moved from later this month to 16–17 April.

Sources: BBC Sport.