Asian Cup postponement hurts Japan coach

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said he would “accept reality” after the 2027 Asian Cup’s postponement from January to December likely cost him his last shot at silverware before stepping down.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said the tournament in Saudi Arabia would be pushed back almost a year due to “exceptional circumstances” in the region, following Houthi attacks on the host country.

Moriyasu was due to lead Japan at the tournament early next year before being replaced by current U23 coach Go Oiwa, but he could now leave at the end of this year.

Japan Football Association technical director Masakuni Yamamoto declined to clarify the situation as Moriyasu named his squad to face Brazil and Paraguay in friendlies in Singapore this month.

Moriyasu, Japan’s longest-serving coach, said the development of the country’s football was more important than his personal situation.

“If the Asian Cup had gone ahead then I would have given my all to win the title in those seven games, but at the same time I thought those seven games wouldn’t be lost if the tournament didn’t happen,” he said.

“If those seven games were to be rescheduled then the new management team could make good use of them looking ahead to the next World Cup.”

“I just accept reality and do my best in the job right in front of me,” he added.

Yamamoto said the timing of the coaching handover would be decided within the JFA.

As well as this month’s games, Japan were set to play an Asian Cup warm-up friendly against a yet-to-be-named opponent in Osaka on 30 December.

Yamamoto could not immediately confirm if the game would now go ahead.

Moriyasu said the Asian Cup postponement had not affected his squad selection to play Brazil and Paraguay.