The 2027 Asian Cup, originally scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, has been postponed to December 2027. The 24-team tournament was moved back following Iranian missile strikes in the country, which came in retaliation to attacks from the United States and Israel in the Middle East.
The rescheduling brings relief to Scottish Premiership managers, whose fixture list at the turn of the year is already packed with the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, set to begin on the second weekend of January. Clubs will now retain some of their top international talents for domestic duties as 2027 begins.
Celtic and Dundee United
Celtic have been without winger Yang since the start of November. The 24-year-old was part of the South Korea U23 team that won a gold medal at the Asian Games last month but has been unable to shake off a hamstring injury picked up at the tournament. Already capped 10 times at senior level, Yang was expected to feature at the Asian Cup. Manager Martin O'Neill has confirmed the player is back in training this week.
Dundee United midfielder Zidane Iqbal, a former Manchester United player, has been one of the season's standout performers. The 23-year-old, signed from Utrecht in the Eredivisie, scored his first goal for Jim Goodwin's side in a 3-2 win over Aberdeen last month and has 31 caps for Iraq. The Tannadice club also have several players with Australia links, including forward Zac Sapsford, a former U19 international, and youth internationals Joshua Rawlins and Daniel Bennie. Attacker Lachlan Rose also hails from Australia.
Falkirk, Hibernian and Motherwell
Falkirk wing back Ryan Strain won the latest of his four caps for Australia two years ago but will target a recall after impressive displays. The 29-year-old, born in Coventry, England, scored Falkirk's second goal in their 2-0 win over Celtic last weekend, his first strike since a summer move from Dundee United.
Hibernian's Martin Boyle has scored 10 times in 41 caps for Australia since his 2018 debut but missed both the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. The 33-year-old netted Hibs' equaliser in their Premier Sports Cup semi-final over Hearts on Sunday. Teammate Ante Suto, born in Croatia, holds an Australian passport through his Sydney-born father and was called up to the senior side in March. Defender Jack Iredale was an Australia U17 international in 2012.
Motherwell's squad includes Australian trio Jake Girdwood-Reich, Oscar Priestman and John Koutroumbis, all of whom have represented the Socceroos at U23 level but are yet to be capped at senior level.
Rangers and St Mirren
Rangers midfielder Cammy Devlin is out with a hamstring injury for another three weeks. The former Hearts player, who has five caps, was part of the Australian side at the 2026 World Cup. Minsu Kim, 20, won his first international recognition for South Korea last month, while fellow summer signing Daisuke Yokota is yet to be capped by Japan at senior level.
St Mirren goalkeeper Jacob Chapman, signed from Huddersfield in the off-season, received a first call-up for Australia in September, sitting on the bench for a friendly double header with Brazil.
