“What will happen to the coach if the Asian Cup is postponed?” Major confusion over the futures of South Korea and Japan’s head coaches… Moreno’s contract nears expiration, Moriyasu also set to step down this year

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

As the possibility of postponing the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup grows, variables have emerged regarding the futures of the head coaches of the South Korean and Japanese national teams. South Korea’s interim head coach Robert Moreno is facing the expiration of his contract this month, while it has been suggested that Japan’s Hajime Moriyasu may also put down the baton at the end of this year.

Japan’s 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, “An official announcement from the AFC is expected soon.”

Specific timing for the event was also mentioned. According to information obtained by Omani journalist Issa Saeed from an AFC insider, the Asian Cup would be delayed by a whopping 11 months, from its original January 2027 date to December of the same year.

Although there has been no official announcement from the AFC yet, rumors of the Asian Cup postponement are spreading, with related news also being reported by Middle Eastern media outlets.

Changes to the Asian Cup schedule could have a significant impact on football in South Korea and Japan. In particular, the futures of the two countries’ head coaches have become a point of interest.

First, South Korea’s Coach Moreno’s contract expires at the end of November. The Korean Football Association appointed Moreno as interim head coach last September, tasking him with leading six A-matches from September to November. This included conditions allowing for a contract extension through the Asian Cup in January next year, based on an evaluation of match results and coaching ability.

However, if the Asian Cup is postponed to December next year, the situation could change. This is because entrusting him with the team until January next year as originally planned and having him lead it for about another year are entirely different matters.

Coach Moreno is also aware of the possibility of an Asian Cup postponement. At a press conference announcing the roster for the November A-matches held on the 29th of last month at Cheonan Korea Football Park in Chungnam Province, he stated regarding the possibility of a postponement, “It has not been confirmed yet and is something we cannot control. If the situation actually arises, we will seek solutions.”

Currently, Coach Moreno is focusing on the A-match schedule immediately ahead. South Korea will play two away friendly matches against Saudi Arabia on the 13th and Qatar on the 17th. These are the final A-matches of this year. With these two games, Coach Moreno will complete all six matches scheduled for him as interim coach.

What evaluation the Korean Football Association will make afterward, and how a change in the Asian Cup hosting date will affect the decision on contract extension, will be key factors.

The situation is also complex in Japan. The Japan Football Association officially announced last July that Coach Moriyasu would lead the national team through the 2027 Asian Cup, after which he would hand over the reins to Ko Oiwa, head coach of the U-21 national team.

Coach Moriyasu, who has led the Japanese national team since 2018, had planned to make the Asian Cup his final stage. However, if the Asian Cup is postponed, the timing of Coach Moriyasu’s retirement could be brought forward.

Football Tribe predicted, “If the Asian Cup is postponed, the international friendly match scheduled for December 30 may become Coach Moriyasu’s last game.”

Japan will face Brazil at Singapore National Stadium on the 14th and take on Paraguay at the same venue on the 17th. Japan is also scheduled to play a friendly match in Osaka, Japan, on December 30.

Earlier, another Japanese media outlet, Sports Nippon, reported that even if the Asian Cup is postponed, the Japan Football Association has firmly decided to entrust the national team to Coach Oiwa as originally planned.

The outlet explained that this decision was made to avoid the next coach having an excessively short amount of time to prepare for the 2030 World Cup.

However, Masakuni Yamamoto, Technical Committee Chairman of the Japan Football Association, recently stated regarding Coach Moriyasu’s tenure in the event of an Asian Cup postponement, “Nothing has been decided yet.”

Ultimately, the AFC’s decision on the timing of the Asian Cup is expected to have a considerable impact on the coaching operational plans for both the South Korean and Japanese national teams.

Originally, the 2027 Asian Cup was scheduled to be held from January 7 to February 5 next year in three Saudi cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Qobbar. The schedule involves a total of 24 teams participating in 51 matches.

The AFC also confirmed and announced match times and host venues for the tournament on October 26 last month. 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 about whether the event can proceed as normal have grown due to the deteriorating security situation surrounding Saudi Arabia recently. Military tensions have heightened, including intensified attacks by Yemen’s pro-Iran Houthi rebels, and several major sports events have been canceled or postponed. Various predictions have also been raised regarding whether the Asian Cup will be held.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original