Moriyasu Watch · Oct 14, 2026
Could the Asian Cup move to 2028? What we know, and what it means for Moriyasu and Oiwa
Update, Nov 3: it happened. The AFC has moved the Asian Cup to Dec 23, 2027 to Jan 21, 2028, pending FIFA approval (see our Nov 3 post). The JFA has not yet said how this changes the coaching timeline. The original explainer follows.
The Asian Cup we've been counting down to may not happen in January. After a deadly attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on October 10 (at least 12 people killed and more than 300 injured, according to Reuters), AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa told reporters in Zurich on October 14 that there is "no hurry to make a decision" and that the tournament could move back a year to 2028 if needed. He said the AFC can wait until the end of November, and that for now preparations are on schedule. Nothing has been decided. As of today, the tournament is still set for January 7 to February 5, 2027 in Saudi Arabia.
This one hits close to home for Samurai Blue. Two of Japan's three group games, Thailand on January 16 and Qatar on January 20, are in Riyadh. The JFA has already pulled Japan's team out of the FIFAe World Cup in Jeddah this month, citing safety and security. Moriyasu, speaking on October 11, said he is watching the situation closely, that the decision belongs to the AFC, and that the team will follow it.
So what happens to the coaching plan? A lot of you are asking, so here it is plainly.
The plan today
In July, the JFA announced that Moriyasu would stay on through the Asian Cup, and that Go Oiwa, who also coaches Japan's U-21s, would take over the senior team starting with a friendly in March 2027. Oiwa's contract runs through the 2030 World Cup.
Does Oiwa take over now?
No. Nothing has changed. The AFC hasn't postponed anything, and the JFA hasn't touched its plan.
If the Asian Cup moves to 2028, does Moriyasu stay another year?
Nobody knows yet. Moriyasu's deal was built around an Asian Cup everyone expected to finish in February 2027. If the tournament moves, the JFA has a choice to make: keep the March 2027 handover, which would put Oiwa in charge at a 2028 Asian Cup, or keep Moriyasu on until the tournament is played. The JFA has not said which way it would go, and no outlet has reported an answer.
Could this put Moriyasu in charge at the 2030 World Cup?
Nothing points that way. Oiwa is already signed through 2030, and no report suggests the JFA is reconsidering. If you see claims otherwise, treat them as speculation until the JFA says something.
When will we know?
The AFC says it can wait until the end of November. If it does postpone, the JFA will have to address the coaching timeline after that, and we'll cover it the moment there's official word.
If you're planning to travel
Hold off on anything you can't refund, and check your government's travel advice before booking. We'll update our countdown, Watch Guide and ticket pages as soon as the AFC makes a call. Safety first, always. (Sources: Reuters, JFA, Gekisaka, The Japan Times)
Source: Reuters via Devdiscourse