Riyadh airport strike puts Korea's November Saudi trip in doubt

📰 A missile strike on Riyadh's airport has left both Korea's November trip to Saudi Arabia and January's Asian Cup there shrouded in uncertainty. 📌 Key points 🚀 King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was hit by missiles on 10 October. ⚠️ Korea's foreign ministry raised its Saudi travel alert to Level 3 on 11 October. ✈️ Plans for friendlies in Saudi Arabia on 9–17 November are wobbling. 🏆 The Asian Cup, due to start in Saudi Arabia on 7 January, faces questions. ⏳ Robert Moreno's contract expires on 27 November. 📝 What happened 🚀 According to SPOTV News and Financial News, missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on 10 October, killing at least 12 civilians from several countries and injuring around 300. Another unidentified projectile reportedly hit a terminal on 11 October. ⚠️ Late on 11 October, South Korea's foreign ministry raised its travel alert for the whole of Saudi Arabia to Level 3, which advises citizens to leave unless their stay is urgent and to cancel or postpone planned trips. ✈️ The national team had been planning friendlies in Saudi Arabia during the November window as Asian Cup preparation, and Saudi media had reported games against Korea and Uzbekistan. Sending a squad to a 'leave now' country looks all but impossible, and finding a new opponent and venue with barely a month to go will not be easy. 🏛️ The KFA said it is in close contact with the AFC, is monitoring the situation and is weighing several options for November. On the Asian Cup, it says it has no choice but to wait for the AFC's decision. 📊 By the numbers • November window: 9–17 November • Travel alert: Level 3 (departure recommended), all of Saudi Arabia • 2027 Asian Cup: 7 January – 5 February, Saudi Arabia • Moreno's contract ends: 27 November 🔭 Why it matters The November double-header was meant to be Moreno's final audition for the permanent job and Korea's last dress rehearsal before the Asian Cup. Sports Kyunghyang notes that the scheduling chaos, his expiring contract and squad unrest, including the '96 generation' retirement row, have left him in a real bind. Korea's group games against Vietnam and Yemen are scheduled for Riyadh, so whatever the AFC decides could reshape the team's entire build-up.