FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation have postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026, which were scheduled to take place in Jeddah from October 16 to 25, following recent attacks in Saudi Arabia.
Organisers announced the decision on Thursday, saying they had assessed regional developments and their potential impact on the arrangements required to stage the international esports tournament.
“The decision follows an assessment of recent developments in the region and their impact on the logistical arrangements required to stage the tournament,” the organisers said in a statement.
They added that further announcements about the FIFAe Finals would be made in due course, without providing a revised schedule.
Japan and Brazil Withdraw Teams
The security situation had already affected preparations for the event. Japan and Brazil withdrew their esports teams on Saturday after assessing conditions in the host country.
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The postponement adds to growing uncertainty surrounding major sporting events scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia over the coming weeks and months.
Regional Attacks Raise Security Concerns
The decision follows reports of a deadly strike on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday. According to the supplied report, the attack killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attack, which the report described as the deadliest in Saudi Arabia in more than a decade.
The developments have raised concerns over the safety and logistics of staging international sporting competitions in the kingdom.
Other Sporting Events Face Uncertainty
The impact has extended beyond esports. The Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament has been moved from October to December, while golf’s Asian Tour said it was monitoring developments ahead of next month’s Saudi International in Riyadh.
The Asian Football Confederation has also said it remains open to postponing the Asian Cup until 2028 if necessary.
The continental football tournament is currently scheduled to begin on January 7, 2027, with matches planned across Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.
With no new dates announced for the FIFAe Finals, organisers and participating teams await further updates as the regional security situation develops.
