FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation have postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026 in Jeddah following recent attacks on Saudi Arabia that raised security concerns ahead of the tournament.
The organisers had scheduled the global video game competition for October 16 to 25. They announced the postponement on Thursday, citing regional developments and their impact on tournament preparations.
“The decision follows an assessment of recent developments in the region and their impact on the logistical arrangements required to stage the tournament,” organisers of the global video game tournament said.
“Further announcements on the FIFAe Finals will be communicated in due course.”
Deadly attack raises security concerns
The decision follows a deadly attack on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday. The strike killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility. The attack marked the deadliest in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
Japan and Brazil had already withdrawn their esports teams on Saturday. Both countries assessed the situation in the host country before withdrawing from the competition.
The postponement adds to concerns over major sporting events in Saudi Arabia as regional tensions escalate.
Other sporting events face uncertainty
The Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament has also moved from October to December. Meanwhile, the Asian Tour said it was monitoring developments ahead of next month’s Saudi International golf tournament in Riyadh.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has also left open the possibility of delaying the Asian Cup until 2028 if necessary.
The continental tournament is scheduled to begin on January 7 next year. Organisers plan to stage matches in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) said it was communicating with the AFC about the situation.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia and plan to continue discussions regarding overall developments,” the KFA said in a statement.
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