“De facto postponement of the Asian Cup decided” — Information from an AFC insider… Japanese media: “Change from January next year to December, official announcement soon”

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Foreign media reports indicate that the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup has effectively entered a postponement process.

Japanese sports outlet Football Tribe reported on the 1st (Korean time), “The Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2027, appears likely to be postponed due to deteriorating local political conditions,” adding that “the AFC is expected to make an official announcement soon.”

A specific new timing for the event was also mentioned. According to reports, it has been postponed by a full 11 months, from January 2027 to December of the same year.

The outlet cited information obtained from an AFC insider, according to Oman-based reporter Isa Said.

On the same day, Isa Side claimed on his social media platform that, according to information obtained from an official inside the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Asian Cup, originally scheduled for January 2027, has been postponed to December 2027. He also added that the AFC is expected to make an official announcement within a few days.

The same news was reported from the Middle East as well. Sports media outlet 365Scores also cited Isa Side's claim, explaining that there is a possibility the Asian Cup will be postponed to December next year.

Earlier, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), directly mentioned the possibility of postponing the tournament in mid-October, citing Saudi Arabia's unstable political situation.

At the time, Chairman Salman stated, “We can wait until the end of November. The situation in this region can change very quickly, for better or for worse. We will have to see what happens next.”

He added, “If necessary, the tournament could be postponed by one year and held in 2028,” explaining, “However, at this point we are monitoring the situation, and everything is proceeding as planned.”

At the time, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had kept both options open: holding the event as scheduled or postponing it. However, this time, specific dates for a potential rescheduling have been mentioned, lending further weight to speculation about a delay.

Miyamoto Tsuneyasu, president of the Japan Football Association (JFA), had previously expressed concern over Saudi Arabia's ongoing security instability, stating that it would not be easy to hold next year's Asian Cup as scheduled.

The Asian Cup is the most prestigious continental national team tournament, designed to determine the strongest football nation in Asia. Given that top Asian powers, including South Korea and Japan, participate, any change in the tournament schedule would inevitably have a significant impact on each national team’s preparation plans.

The 2027 Asian Cup was originally scheduled to be held from January 7 to February 5 next year in three Saudi cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Qobbar. The tournament is set to feature a total of 24 teams competing in 51 matches.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had also confirmed and announced the match times, venues, and other details for the tournament on October 26. The opening match between Saudi Arabia and Palestine was scheduled to be held at King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Riyadh on January 7.

However, concerns over whether the tournament could be held as scheduled have grown amid deteriorating security conditions surrounding Saudi Arabia. Military tensions have escalated, including intensified attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, and several major sporting events have been canceled or postponed. Various forecasts have also emerged regarding whether the Asian Cup would go ahead.

If the postponement of the Asian Cup becomes a reality, the South Korea national football team will also need to readjust its tournament preparation schedule. In particular, changes are expected in the player call-up and training plans that have been progressing with January next year as the target.

The future of Robert Moreno, the interim head coach of the South Korea national football team, could also become uncertain. Moreno's contract is set to expire this month. If he had received favorable evaluations for his match results and coaching abilities during that period, there was a possibility that he would have continued to lead the national team through the Asian Cup in January next year.

However, if the Asian Cup is postponed by as much as 11 months, the situation could change. Earlier, Manager Moreno stated regarding the possibility of an Asian Cup postponement, "I will consider it once a decision is made."

Japan is in the same situation. Manager Hajime Moriyasu, who has led the Japanese national team since 2018, had originally planned to step down after the Asian Cup. However, if the tournament is postponed, the timing of Moriyasu's departure could be brought forward.

Football Live predicted, "If the Asian Cup is postponed, the international friendly match scheduled for December 30 could be Manager Moriyasu's final game."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original