AFC considers schedule changes that could limit Japan's matches against top nations

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is considering changes to the AFC Asian Cup schedule, potentially moving the tournament to even-numbered years to align with the UEFA European Championship and Copa América.

This shift is intended to accommodate the scheduling of a proposed ‘Asian Nations League,’ a competition modeled after the UEFA Nations League. However, the change could impact the Japan national football team by reducing their opportunities to play international friendly matches against top-tier European and South American opponents leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Players such as Takefusa Kubo and Ritsu Doan have expressed interest in facing high-ranking nations like Italy or Morocco to gauge their progress. Changes to the match schedule could also influence Japan’s FIFA ranking, which is critical for World Cup seeding.