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Asian Cup draw postponed as Middle East conflict continues

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The draw ⁠for January's Asian Cup finals, which was ​due to ​be held in Riyadh on April 11, has been postponed, the Asian Football Confederation announced on Thursday.


Officials have rescheduled the event to a later ⁠date "to ensure the undisrupted attendance of all ⁠stakeholders at the final draw ceremony," the governing body said in a statement.


Numerous sporting events ‌in the region have been ​postponed or ⁠cancelled due to the ongoing ​conflict in the region, ‌which started when the United States and Israel ​launched attacks on Iran almost a month ago.


Saudi Arabia is due to host the 24-team quadrennial continental championship for the first time with ‌the last remaining round of qualifiers taking ​place on Tuesday.


Qatar are the defending champions ​and ‌have ⁠already secured their berth at the finals alongside four-times winners Japan, plus fellow ​World Cup qualifiers South Korea, ⁠Iran, Jordan, ​Australia and Uzbekistan.


The AFC announced on Tuesday that the latter stages of the Asian Champions League Elite would go ​ahead as planned in Jeddah, with ​matches running from April 13 to 26. 



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