Saudi Arabia sports events disrupted by regional security concerns

Security concerns in Saudi Arabia following military attacks by Yemeni forces have led to the disruption of several major international sporting events. The Asian Tour has decided to postpone the Saudi International golf tournament, which features a $5 million prize, originally scheduled for November 18–21 in Riyadh. The decision follows an assessment of organizational and logistical challenges posed by the current regional situation.

Additionally, the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, set to take place in Riyadh from November 3–7, has been canceled. The International Cycling Union cited regional developments and their impact on logistics as primary reasons for the cancellation. Other affected events include the Six Kings tennis exhibition, which has been moved from October to December, and the 2026 Global Esports Games finals, which have been postponed indefinitely by FIFA.

These security developments have also raised questions regarding the future of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. While the local organizing committee remains committed to the scheduled dates, AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa noted that postponing the tournament to 2028 remains a possibility if necessary.