FAS ‘closely monitoring evolving security situation’ ahead of Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia

SAUDI ARABIA, RIYADH, JEDDAH, YEMEN, SINGAPORE, DUBAI, KHOBAR, EASTERN PROVINCE, 13 OCTOBER 2026 —

The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) stated on October 12 that it is closely monitoring the evolving security situation in the Middle East and its potential implications for travel, as deadly missile strikes on Saudi Arabia’s airports have raised significant concerns over the hosting of the Asian Cup.

The safety and well-being of players, coaching staff, and officials remain the foremost priority for the FAS, according to a statement released in response to queries from The Straits Times. This cautious stance comes as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), which organizes the quadrennial tournament, has not responded to requests for comment regarding the potential impact of the conflict on the event.

The situation has created a complex backdrop for the 24 participating teams, with the security environment in the host nation deteriorating rapidly in the weeks leading up to the competition.

The immediate trigger for heightened concern was a series of attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s second-busiest airport after Jeddah. On October 12, the Houthis, an armed political and religious group from northern Yemen, claimed they had attacked the airport with a ballistic missile. This incident occurred shortly after Saudi Arabia announced it had intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile fired by the group towards the capital.

The Saudi civil aviation authority stated that operations at the airport were suspended until at least October 17 to allow for the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport’s facilities.

The disruption to air travel has been widespread, with a number of major airlines cancelling or postponing flights to Saudi Arabia’s two main cities. Delta Air Lines, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, Air France-KLM, and Philippine Airlines have all adjusted their schedules. Singapore Airlines announced on October 9 that it will postpone the launch of its services to Riyadh until March 28, while its budget arm, Scoot, has cancelled flights to Jeddah until December 2.

These cancellations underscore the logistical challenges facing teams and officials who must travel to the region for the tournament.

Reports from the Australian Associated Press (AAP) suggest that the AFC is unlikely to strip Saudi Arabia of its hosting rights and relocate the tournament to another country at short notice. However, the report added that if the conflict does not end over the interim three months, a more likely scenario could see the tournament pushed back to January 2028.

This potential delay would have significant implications for the football calendar and the preparations of all participating nations, particularly those that have already secured qualification.

Singapore, which has secured its maiden qualification for the Asian Cup, is among the teams navigating this uncertainty. Lions skipper Hariss Harun, wearing the number 14 jersey, expressed the team’s desire to play in the biggest continental competition while emphasizing that safety must be the top priority. “Naturally, it is a concern when we see and hear about what is happening, and I believe everyone has the same concerns.

We want to play in the biggest continental competition but we also want world peace as well,” Harun told The Straits Times.

Harun highlighted the scale of the event, noting that there are not only players from 24 teams involved, but also many staff, volunteers, family members, and fans who will be present for such a major tournament. “Safety must be the top priority because there are not only players from 24 teams involved, there are going to be many staff, volunteers, family members and fans who will be there for such a major tournament,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the organizers, stating, “I’m sure that as the organizers, the AFC is also keeping an eye on what is happening, so we trust them to make the right calls and decisions.”

The logistical footprint of the tournament is heavily concentrated in Riyadh, where five of the upcoming Asian Cup’s eight venues are located. In total, 31 matches, including the final, will be held in the Saudi capital.

For Singapore, the group stage schedule includes matches against Australia on January 9 and Iraq on January 19 at the Aramco Stadium Khobar in the Eastern province, and against Tajikistan on January 14 at the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud University Stadium in Riyadh. The concentration of matches in Riyadh, the site of recent missile strikes, adds a layer of complexity to the safety assessments being conducted by national teams.

Football Australia has echoed the cautious approach of the FAS. A spokesman for the Australian national team said in a statement reported by AAP that risk assessment is part of the planning for every national team camp and will be a key focus of their preparations for January. This indicates that multiple national federations are actively evaluating the security risks associated with traveling to and competing in Saudi Arabia.

The friendly match between South Korea and Saudi Arabia, scheduled for November in Riyadh, is also under review, with the Korea Football Association telling AAP that it is “reviewing multiple scenarios” regarding the event.

The conflict in the Middle East has already wreaked havoc on the broader sporting calendar, with several high-profile events cancelled or postponed. The Lions’ international football friendly against the Faroe Islands in Dubai on March 26 was cancelled, while the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Jeddah in April was called off. Additionally, the World Rally Championship dropped its Saudi Arabia event slated for November.

These cancellations reflect a wider trend of organizations reassessing their presence in the region due to security concerns.

As the Asian Cup approaches, the focus remains on the AFC’s decision-making process and the evolving security situation in Saudi Arabia. The tournament, a major event in the football calendar, now faces the challenge of balancing the desire to host a successful competition with the imperative to ensure the safety of all participants. The next few months will be critical in determining whether the event proceeds as planned, is delayed, or faces further disruptions.

For Singapore and other participating nations, the priority is clear: to prepare for the tournament while keeping a close watch on the security developments in the host country. The outcome of these assessments will shape the future of the Asian Cup and the broader sporting landscape in the region.

Related: Hariss Harun