Hajime Moriyasu, head coach of the Japanese national football team, clarified on Wednesday his acceptance of the reality following the postponement of the 2027 Asian Cup from January to December, a move that likely deprives him of his last chance to win a title before stepping down from his position.
Moriyasu, the longest-serving coach in the history of the Japanese national team since 2018, pointed out that the development of football in Japan is more important than his personal situation, stating: "If the Asian Cup had been organized on schedule, I would have given everything I had to win the title during those seven matches, but at the same time, I believe those seven matches will not be lost if the tournament is not held. If those matches are rescheduled, the new technical staff can benefit from them well in preparation for the upcoming World Cup."
The Japanese coach added: "I simply accept reality and do my best in the task currently before me." Moriyasu continued: "We have always strived to give our best in the matches immediately ahead, linking that also to the future. The postponement of the Asian Cup has not changed anything in this regard. For Japan to become a national team capable of winning the World Cup, we must achieve a higher win rate against South American national teams."
The Asian Football Confederation had announced that the competition scheduled in Saudi Arabia would be postponed by almost a full year due to developments in the region. It was scheduled for Moriyasu to lead the Japanese national team in the tournament at the beginning of next year, before being succeeded by Joe Ooiwa, the current coach of the under-23 national team, but he may now leave at the end of this year.
Masakuni Yamamoto, the technical director of the Japan Football Association, refused to clarify the situation, at a time when Moriyasu revealed his squad to face Brazil and Paraguay in two friendly matches in Singapore this November. It was also scheduled for Japan to play a preparatory friendly match for the Asian Cup against an as-yet-undetermined opponent in Osaka on December 30 next year, and Yamamoto did not confirm whether the match would be played on schedule or not, stating that the postponement of the 2027 Asian Cup did not affect his choices for the squad facing Brazil and Paraguay.
Takumi Minamino, striker for French club Monaco, regained his place in the squad after missing the 2026 World Cup due to injury, and Moriyasu included both Zyon Suzuki, goalkeeper for Aston Villa, and Daichi Kamada, midfielder for English club Crystal Palace, as well as calling up Tatsuhiko Sakamoto, winger for Coventry City, for the first time in over five years.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
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