Japan Football Association (JFA) President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has raised serious concerns about the feasibility of hosting next year's Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia as scheduled, citing the ongoing security situation. He made the comments on October 23rd at an extraordinary Asian Football Confederation (AFC) congress held in Tokyo.

Miyamoto told reporters, "Based on what I've learnt from the news, the situation is still unsafe, so at this point, I don't think it would be easy to hold the AFC (Asian) Cup there." His warning comes amid escalating attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group, which have led to the cancellation or postponement of several major sporting events in the kingdom.

Host and AFC Stance

In contrast, the local organising committee in Saudi Arabia has stated it is sticking to the original schedule. AFC President Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said a postponement until 2028 remained a possibility if necessary. Miyamoto also noted the host nation's position, adding, "I just had a meeting with the Saudi side and they said that their top priority is the safety of the players, the fans, and everyone who would be attending the tournament."

The Saudi government has invested heavily in sport through its Public Investment Fund (PIF), pitching the Asian Cup as an early rehearsal for hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034. The tournament is scheduled to run from January 7 to February 5 next year.

Japan's Current Form

Amid this uncertainty over the tournament's logistics, the Japan national team continues its strong run of form. The team is unbeaten in its last four matches, with three wins and a draw, during which Hidemasa Morita has scored three goals in ten appearances this season. Their most recent result was a 2-1 victory over New Zealand on October 5th, with goals from Ayase Ueda in the 5th minute and Ritsu Doan in the second half. The team now prepares for its next fixture at home against Brazil on November 14th.

With a solid foundation of results, the squad looks ahead to both the upcoming marquee friendly and the continental championship. The final decision on the Asian Cup will require continued dialogue, with player safety and tournament integrity as the most important concerns.

Background and full detail: reuters.com