"I had planned to leave after winning the Asian Cup..." Japan's Manager Hajime Moriyasu faces the risk of his final stage being canceled due to the tournament's one-year postponement... He could depart as early as this month

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The possibility has grown that Hajime Moriyasu, manager of the Japan national football team, will step down without even competing in the Asian Cup. With the tournament postponed by approximately one year, forecasts suggest he may leave the national team without taking part in the Asian Cup, which had originally been set as his final stage.

Japan's Football Channel reported on the 4th (Korean time), "Manager Moriyasu initially planned to step down from the Japan national team after this Asian Cup and hand over the reins to Manager Takayuki Oikawa starting in March 2027," but added, "However, with the tournament postponed, the timing of the managerial change has become uncertain."

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on its official website on the 3rd that it would change the schedule for the 2027 Saudi Arabia Asian Cup.

The Asian Cup was originally scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia from January 7, 2027, to February 5, 2027. However, considering political instability in the Middle East region and logistics and travel issues, it has been postponed by approximately one year to December 23, 2027, through January 21, 2028. The revised schedule is expected to be finalized after approval from the International Football Federation (FIFA).

This decision has also had a significant impact on the Japan national team. Manager Moriyasu extended his contract with the Japan Football Association after completing the 2026 North America World Cup. However, the contract period was limited until the Asian Cup in January 2027.

For Manager Moriyasu, the Asian Cup was set to be his final stage. The plan was to lead the Japan national team in a challenge for the top spot in Asia before stepping down.

The successor manager was also effectively decided. Japan had prepared a plan to have Manager Takayuki Oikawa, who is preparing age-group national teams for the 2028 Los Angeles (LA) Olympics, take charge of the senior national team starting in March 2027.

However, with the postponement of the Asian Cup, these plans have encountered obstacles. It has become uncertain whether Manager Moriyasu will extend his contract until the tournament is held or hand over the reins to the successor manager as originally planned.

Amid this, Manager Moriyasu directly expressed his feelings about the Asian Cup postponement at a press conference announcing the November A-match roster, held in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on the 4th.

He said, "If the Asian Cup had been held as scheduled, I intended to prepare my best with the goal of winning and fight with all my might until the end."

However, it does not seem easy for Manager Moriyasu to lead the Japan national team through the Asian Cup as he wished. Local Japanese media are placing weight on reports of the possibility that Manager Moriyasu will resign within the year.

Another Japanese outlet, Nikkan Sports, also reported, "Manager Moriyasu appears likely to resign within the year," adding, "He originally planned to lead the team until the Asian Cup as his final tournament, but the postponement is expected to bring forward the end of his term."

Japan will play friendly matches against Brazil on the 14th and Paraguay on the 17th in Singapore. In particular, the holding of the Asian Cup departure evaluation match scheduled for December 30 in Osaka has also become uncertain.

If that match is canceled and Manager Moriyasu resigns within the year, the match against Paraguay on November 17 could be his final game as head coach of the Japan national team.

Football Channel also reported, "The international friendly match scheduled for December 30, which was to double as the Asian Cup departure ceremony, is also uncertain regarding whether it will be held."

It continued, "If the match does not take place as things stand, there is a possibility that the match against Paraguay on November 17 could become Manager Moriyasu's final game with the Japan national team."

Manager Moriyasu stated, "I thought that if the Asian Cup is held, I will do my best, and if it is not held, it is a matter for the institutional investor who has decision-making authority to judge," adding, "First, I intend to do my best with the immediate national team activities and connect them to the future."

However, Manager Moriyasu's future has not been officially decided. Masakuni Yamamoto, Technical Committee Chairman of the Japan Football Association, explained regarding Manager Moriyasu's contract issue, "At this point, there is nothing I can say," adding, "Since the Asian Cup postponement was just decided, we will collect and organize information."

Manager Moriyasu appeared to accept the possibility that he might not be able to lead the Asian Cup. He said, "If the Asian Cup had been held, we could have played up to seven matches. I intended to prepare my best with the goal of winning and fight until the end," but added, "At the same time, with the postponement of the Asian Cup, I also feel it is fortunate that we have not lost those seven matches."

He explained the reason as well. Manager Moriyasu said, "The staff of a new team heading toward the next World Cup may be able to effectively utilize those seven matches for the future."

This meant that even if he could not lead the Asian Cup, a new leadership could use the tournament to prepare for the 2030 World Cup.

Manager Moriyasu emphasized, "I had thought about developing what my predecessors have continued toward Japan winning the World Cup, connecting it to the future, and passing the baton to the next person."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original