Six Kings Slam moved to December as AFC considers delaying Asian Cup to 2028

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Organisers announced on Wednesday that the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition would move from October to December 27–30 following recent attacks in Saudi Arabia. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is also open to delaying the Asian Cup until 2028.

Security concerns affect sporting calendar

On Saturday, an attack targeting the international airport in Riyadh left at least 12 people dead and more than 300 injured. Yemen’s Houthi movement, which is aligned with Iran, claimed responsibility for the strike, the deadliest in Saudi Arabia for over a decade.

The attacks have raised concerns about disruption to sporting events in the kingdom. Golf’s Asian Tour said it was watching security developments before next month’s Saudi International in Riyadh.

Tennis organisers cite logistical challenges

The Six Kings Slam had been due to run from October 21-24, with Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz among those scheduled to compete. Injury forced defending champion Jannik Sinner to withdraw.

In their statement, organisers said the postponement reflected Riyadh Season’s commitment to staging high-standard sporting events. They said they had assessed organisational and logistical difficulties surrounding the tournament, including how those challenges might affect spectators’ experience.

The exhibition attracts leading players through its record prize money. Alcaraz acknowledged in 2024 that money had influenced his participation, earning $1.5 million during the four-day event.

AFC willing to wait on Asian Cup decision

Saudi Arabia is due to host football’s Asian Cup for the first time in 2027, providing an important test before it stages the 2034 World Cup.

The competition, featuring 24 teams, is set to begin on January 7. Matches are planned for eight venues across Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar.

AFC president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa told reporters in Zurich, where the FIFA Council is meeting, that the confederation did not need to decide immediately whether to postpone the tournament.

He said a decision could wait until the end of November, noting that regional conditions could improve or deteriorate rapidly and that the AFC would assess developments.