Leicester City Receives Boost Update on Harry Souttar as Asian Cup Postponed

Leicester City will retain the services of centre-back Harry Souttar at the start of 2027 after the Asian Cup was postponed amid security concerns.

Souttar had been due to represent Australia in the tournament, originally scheduled to run from 7 January to 5 February. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has now rescheduled the event following a series of attacks in Saudi Arabia. In October, a missile strike on Riyadh’s airport, claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement, killed 13 people and injured more than 300.

The AFC stated that the decision was taken “in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from the developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions.” The postponement marks the latest disruption to Saudi Arabia’s sporting calendar and follows the earlier rescheduling of the Six Kings Slam tennis exhibition. It is also the second successive Asian Cup to be moved, after the 2023 edition was relocated from China to Qatar and staged in 2024 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The change is significant for Leicester. Souttar had been expected to miss up to seven League One fixtures depending on Australia’s progress in the competition. He would certainly have been absent for the matches against Wycombe on 1 January, Reading on 9 January, Doncaster on 16 January and Bromley on 19 January, all of which fell within the original tournament window.

The Australia international has been a regular under manager Russell Martin this season, making 13 appearances across all competitions.

In other news, Commentary Argues Leicester City Should Prioritise Local Talent Over Foreign Youth Signings.