AFC Asian Cup postponement impacts national team coaching schedules

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the postponement of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. Originally scheduled for January 2027, the tournament will now take place from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028, due to deteriorating conditions in the Middle East. The decision is currently awaiting final approval from FIFA.

The rescheduling is expected to disrupt coaching transitions for several national teams. In Japan, the postponement may affect the tenure of manager Hajime Moriyasu, whose contract was previously aligned with the original tournament dates. This shift complicates the planned succession to Tsuyoshi Oito.

Other international managers may also face uncertainty. Reports suggest Fabio Cannavaro, manager of the Uzbekistan national team, may consider resigning following the schedule change. Additionally, the future of Austria manager Toni Popovich has been noted as potentially impacted by similar contract alignment issues.