"We can wait until the end of November"… 2027 Asian Cup schedule maintained, with 2028 postponement also on the table

The Saudi organizing committee said it is preparing the 2027 Asian Cup on the approved schedule, with the opening on January 7. The AFC president has left open the possibility of postponing to 2028.

Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.

On September 29, 100 days before the opening, the AFC reported on Saudi Arabia's preparations. Then in an October 16 report, the figure "2028" came up. The organizing committee said it would proceed as scheduled, but the AFC president raised the possibility of postponement. As of October 17, there are 82 days until the opening. Whether Son Heung-min (34) will make his final appearance has not yet been confirmed.

2027 Asian Cup Schedule Unchanged, Opening on January 7

Reuters/CNA reported that the Saudi local organizing committee is preparing stadiums, facilities, and support services on the approved schedule. The committee said, "Preparations for all organizational and operational areas are proceeding according to the approved schedule," and AP also reported the same. The tournament period announced by the AFC runs 30 days, from January 7 to February 5.

This statement does not mean the hosting has been confirmed. It is only an expression that preparations have not stopped, and not a guarantee that the tournament will be held regardless of the security situation. The publication dates differ: Arab News dated it October 15, while AP and Reuters/CNA dated it October 16.

AFC President: "We can wait until the end of November", 38 days before the opening

Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, AFC president (60), said the tournament could be postponed to 2028 if necessary. The National reported that he said, "We can wait until the end of November." From November 30 until the opening is 38 days. The Korea Football Association says it will keep a close eye on the situation in Saudi Arabia while continuing discussions.

Son Heung-min Earns $11.15 Million, Ranked 2nd in MLS Guaranteed Compensation

Rank	Player	Club	Guaranteed Compensation (USD)
1	Lionel Messi	Inter Miami	28,333,333
2	Son Heung-min	LAFC	11,152,852
3	Rodrigo De Paul	Inter Miami	9,688,320
4	Irving Lozano	San Diego FC	9,333,333
5	Miguel Almirón	Atlanta United	7,871,000

Son left Tottenham for LAFC with 454 official appearances and 173 goals left behind at the club. MLS Players Association data (as of April 16, 2026), Son's annual guaranteed compensation is $11,152,852. That is $784,102 more than his base salary of $10,368,750. Compared with No. 1 Messi, Messi receives about 2.54 times as much. The transfer fee is estimated at about $26 million to $26.5 million based on reports from ESPN and The Athletic, but the club has not disclosed the amount.

Preparations are proceeding according to schedule, but the AFC president said the decision could wait until the end of November. From October 17 to the end of November (calculated as November 30), there are 44 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Has the 2027 Asian Cup schedule changed?

As of October 17, it has not changed. The period announced by the AFC is January 7 to February 5, 2027, and the organizing committee has also said it is preparing according to schedule. However, since the AFC president mentioned the possibility of postponing to 2028, the final decision should be watched.

Q. How old is Son Heung-min?

Born on July 8, 1992, he is currently 34 years old. If the tournament is held in January as scheduled, he will also be 34 at the opening.

Q. What is Son Heung-min's salary?

According to the MLS Players Association, his annual guaranteed compensation for the 2026 season is $11,152,852, and his base salary is $10,368,750. Based on contract status as of April 16, 2026, he is ranked 2nd in MLS, behind Lionel Messi.

Related Official Sites

AFC Asian Cup Official Page — Check the tournament schedule and official AFC announcements
Korea Football Association — Check national team squad lists and the association's position
LAFC — Son's club match schedule and club news
MLS Players Association Official Salary Data — Original MLS player base salary and guaranteed compensation data

Cover image · archival photo · not an on-site photo of the match currently described in the article · photo composite · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Ujishadow), CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Mehdi Bolourian), CC BY 4.0