ASIAN FOOTBALL CONFEDERATION POSTPONES THE 2027 ASIAN CUP BECAUSE OF CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Asian Football Confederation has postponed the 2027 Asian Cup by almost a year because of the conflict in the Middle East and recent deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen

SEOUL, South Korea -- The 2027 Asian Cup soccer tournament has been delayed almost a year in the wake of recent deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia, becoming the biggest sports event to be postponed amid the conflict in the Middle East.

The Asian Football Confederation issued a statement Tuesday saying that after extensive consultations with Saudi organizers it had decided to push the start of its marquee continental championship back from Jan. 7 to Dec. 23.

Local organizers agreed to reschedule in “circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions,” the AFC said. “Exceptional circumstances have been created for the organization and delivery of the competition as originally scheduled, making the postponement necessary in the interest of all participating teams, officials, spectators and other stakeholders.”

The new dates — Dec. 23, 2027 to Jan. 21, 2028 — will be submitted to FIFA for approval.

The monthlong tournament was scheduled to feature 24 teams playing matches in eight venues across Riyadh, Jeddah, and Khobar. Iran qualified and has been grouped with Syria, China and Kyrgyzstan for the league stage. The Saudis, Australia, South Korea and Japan were top seeds in other groups.

The AFC's announcement ended months of speculation about a postponement which, until recently, had been rejected by local organizers.

Muhammed Q. Alghamdi, a spokesman for the organizing committee, last month told members at an AFC meeting in Tokyo that “daily life is ongoing in Saudi Arabia.”

Before that meeting, AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa had indicated potential for the Asian Cup to be postponed by a year if necessary and said a final decision could be delayed until late November.

The Saudi Formula 1 Grand Prix was canceled this season, and the Bahrain race was relocated to Malaysia because of safety concerns related to the Iran war. Races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi are still on the calendar, and F1 has kept Saudi Arabia on the 2027 schedule with a grand prix planned there in March.

The WTA Finals, the season-ending event in women’s tennis, was moved from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells, California.

Asia's marquee continental club soccer tournament — the AFC Champions League Elite — has already been disrupted.

A game between Cristiano Ronaldo ’s Al-Nassr and Uzbekistan’s Neftchi Fergana was delayed on Oct. 12 after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued a security alert. An Al-Nassr’s home game last week was postponed when against Al-Wasl of the United Arab Emirates didn't travel to Riyadh.

Tuesday’s postponement means national federations across Asia face decisions about coaching staff with the originally scheduled Asian Cup marking the end of a four-year cycle before attention turns toward qualification for the 2030 World Cup.

Australia coach Tony Popovic, who guided the Socceroos to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup, turned down a four-year contract extension in September in favor of a shorter deal through the Asian Cup.

“It was my choice to go until the Asian Cup,” Popovic said at the time, saying a decision on his longer-term future would then be made with the Australian federation.

“I know the legacy that I will leave behind,” he said. “And if it’s someone else that takes it forward, that’s fine. If it’s me, great, we agree to do this together.”

South Korea is also in a difficult position. After a disappointing World Cup, the Korea Football Association appointed Robert Moreno as interim coach in September.

The former Spain coach was given a contract through the end of November, with the possibility of a two or three-month extension to cover the Asian Cup. A strong tournament was expected to lead to a permanent appointment but now the KFA will have to make a decision without seeing how the team performs in the continental championship which it hasn't won since 1960.

After the World Cup, Japan gave coach Hajime Moriyasu an extension through the Asian Cup, with under-21 coach Go Oiwa then due to take over.

“Mr. Moriyasu has already shown that he can win in Asia, and we hope he can do so again by winning the Asian Cup,” Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said when the appointment was announced. “We worked backward from the goal of winning the Asian Cup. As for Mr. Oiwa, as the U-21 manager, we wanted him to focus on winning the Asian Games and to remain fully committed to the U-21 team until the end of the year.”

In Iraq, coach Graham Arnold signed an extension after the World Cup that was also designed to run through the Asian Cup.

- JOHN DUERDEN, Associated Press

UEFA BOSS CEREFIN SAYS TRUST IN WORLD FOOTBALL REMAINS BROKEN AFTER FIFA INVESTMENT ROW

Getty

* Ceferin says collapsed FIFA investment plan shattered unity of world football

* Proposal to sell 20% stake in FIFA commercial rights was dropped in July

* Infantino proposes independent external review of FIFA governance for strategic initiatives

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said trust in world football had not been restored following the collapse of FIFA’s controversial private-investment plan, in his first public comments since FIFA President Gianni Infantino offered a review of the governing body’s decision-making.

In a video address to the Portugal Football Summit on Wednesday, Ceferin said unity, transparency and governance that served the wider game were essential to maintaining trust in football.

"Yet not everyone places the game above their own ambitions,” Ceferin said.

"Trust in our sport rests on three pillars: unity, transparency, and governance that serves the many, not the few. In recent times, all three were disregarded by people who had sworn to protect them.

"The project that shattered the unity of world football may be abolished, but the trust it broke has not returned, and repairing it is our work now.”

Ceferin did not name Infantino or FIFA directly, but his comments were an apparent reference to the abandoned proposal to sell a 20% stake in FIFA’s commercial rights, including the World Cup, to private investors.

The plan was dropped in July after fierce opposition from UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation and CONCACAF.

"Football is not for sale,” Ceferin said. "That is the message UEFA has carried for years, and I'm certain this summit will carry it further.”

His intervention came two days after Infantino sought to address the fallout in a letter to the FIFA Council and the presidents of all 211 member associations.

Infantino said he would ask the Council whether it wanted to commission an independent external review of FIFA’s governance framework for major strategic initiatives and proposed consultations with confederations, member associations and other stakeholders on strengthening its decision-making processes.

He said any review could examine the roles of the president, bureau, Council and Congress and ways to improve transparency and accountability.

The letter has so far failed to win over several federations that had criticised Infantino over the investment proposal.

Infantino has said he remains fully committed to leading FIFA and is expected to seek another term at the presidential election in March 2027.

Ceferin said those running the sport needed to remember whom they served.

"The game will remain safe if those who govern it remember whom they govern it for," he said.

- REUTERS/OEIRAS, PORTUGAL

UEFA READY TO OUST FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO WITH NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION: REPORT

UEFA is reportedly prepared to trigger an emergency no-confidence vote against Infantino if he does not resign, with all 55 of the European governing body's member associations understood to be willing to support his removal.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is reportedly facing the prospect of a no-confidence motion from UEFA.© Getty

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is reportedly facing the prospect of a no-confidence motion from UEFA after world football's governing body was forced to abandon its controversial proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup and other competitions. The latest development comes amid growing scrutiny of FIFA's leadership following the withdrawal of the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project, which had drawn strong opposition from UEFA, several continental confederations and senior figures within FIFA itself.

According to a report in The Telegraph, UEFA is prepared to trigger an emergency no-confidence vote against Infantino if he does not resign, with all 55 of the European governing body's member associations understood to be willing to support his removal. Under FIFA's statutes, UEFA can reportedly initiate such a motion with the backing of 43 member associations.

UEFA on Saturday welcomed FIFA's decision to scrap the proposal but launched a scathing attack on the organisation's leadership and governance.

In a strongly-worded statement, UEFA said FIFA's plan to sell a stake in its competitions, including the World Cup, into private hands had been unanimously rejected by its member associations and opposed by football stakeholders across the globe.

Describing the withdrawal as ‘a victory for the whole game', UEFA also declared that "football is not for sale" and thanked fans, clubs, leagues, players, national associations, confederations and political leaders who opposed the proposal.

The European body further claimed that the current FIFA leadership had "not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family", while accusing Infantino of failing to uphold his promises of transparency made when he was elected FIFA president in 2016.

The controversy centres around FIFA's proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new commercial entity that would have managed the commercial rights of major FIFA competitions while allowing outside investors to acquire an equity stake. FIFA argued the initiative could significantly increase development funding for its member associations.

Infantino formally withdrew the proposal on Saturday, saying consultations had made it clear that the project had created divisions that were no longer in the best interests of football.

"Our purpose has always been, and will always be, to unite and improve," Infantino said while confirming that the proposal would not proceed.

The proposal had also prompted opposition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), CONCACAF and several FIFA stakeholders. Former FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest, while reports also suggested concerns had been raised internally over the project's transparency.

- IANS

PRIME MINISTER ANDY BURNHAM CALLS FOR 'WROND MAN' GIANNI INFANTINO TO BE REPLACED AS FIFA CHIEF

AFP

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has branded Gianni Infantino the wrong man to lead FIFA following widespread backlash over plans for private equity to sell stakes in the World Cup. Burnham condemned the controversial commercial proposals after a senior adviser resigned and key regional confederations united to oppose the governing body’s blueprint.

Burnham condemns Infantino leadership

Burnham has launched a stinging attack on Infantino’s leadership of FIFA following a wave of backlash against plans to commercialise the organisation. The resistance has intensified following the resignation of senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro and formal opposition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), UEFA, and CONCACAF. Burnham argued that Infantino’s attempt to sell off a stake in FIFA competitions to private investors represents a fundamentally flawed decision for the future of world football.

SW Pix

Prime Minister demands change

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Burnham openly condemned the proposed private equity scheme. He said: "This was an outrageous suggestion," before questioning Infantino's suitability to remain in charge of FIFA: "The idea that it could even be brought forward shows that, in my view, [he] is the wrong man to lead the organisation."

Private equity blueprint rejected

Burnham's scathing critique reflects a broader global resistance, including a firm stance taken by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

In an official statement, the AFC rejected plans to establish the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) commercial subsidiary and stressed the necessity of preserving the integrity of football's premier tournament: "The Fifa World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world's leading football nations.

"Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered."

-Adhe Makayasa

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NEW ASEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

For a region brimming with age-old rivalries between geographical neighbours, it almost seems a given that a club competition would thrive in Southeast Asia.

Yet, for the last 20 years, that has failed to materialise for a variety of reasons.

But all that will change starting this week when the ASEAN Club Championship -- officially known as the Shopee Cup due to sponsorship reasons -- kicks off on Wednesday.

Wondering what there is to look forward to? Here is all you need to know.

Is this the first time such a tournament is being held?

Not exactly. The inaugural ASEAN Club Championship -- organised by the ASEAN Football Federation -- was held in 2003 as was originally planned as a biennial competition.

A second edition took place in 2005 before the tournament was indefinitely removed from the Southeast Asian football calendar.

Why was the tournament cancelled originally?

Several factors were in play but, primarily, this was a time when was still a lack of synergy in the schedules of the various domestic leagues -- as well as within the larger footballing ecosystem in Asia.

The Asian Football Confederation's club competitions remains the highest-level tournaments in the continent, and there were conflicting calendars.

This was also a time when several nations were revamping their own leagues and focus was on finding stable footing domestically, rather than commit to additional competition.

One example came in 2005 when Indonesia opted against sending representatives while developing nations such as Philippines and Laos also pulled out presumably due to financial reasons.

A failure to gain traction -- and a subsequent inability to attract a viable number of sponsors -- led to the tournament's demise.

Who has won the ASEAN Club Championship previously?

While the competition is meant to be contested by clubs from Southeast Asia, it was an invited team who were the inaugural champions as India's East Bengal claimed the title in 2003 on the back of an inspired nine-goal haul from national hero Baichung Bhutia.

Although they finished second in their group, East Bengal would account for Indonesian duo Persita Tangerang and the now-defunct Petrokimia Putra come the knockout round before exacting revenge on BEC Tero Sasana (now Police Tero) in a rematch in the final.

Two years later, Singapore's BG Tampines Rovers -- during one of the club's more successful eras -- claimed the crown after coming from behind to record a thrilling 4-2 win over Sri Pahang in the final.

Why is the ASEAN Club Championship returning -- and only now?

Plans for the return of an ASEAN club competition were mooted as early as 2012 but, originally, the concept was a breakaway tournament -- the ASEAN Super League -- that did not receive unanimous support in fear it would have a negative impact on domestic leagues that were already faring well.

But in 2019, after receiving endorsement from both the AFC and FIFA, it was announced that the ASEAN Club Championship would return in 2020.

Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic meant that tournament had to be put on hiatus before it was ultimately given the green light to go ahead this year.

What will the schedule be like?

As with continental club football, the ASEAN Club Championship will take place in midweek with weekends usually reserved for domestic games.

With many leagues in the region now shifting to an August-to-May season, the ASEAN Club Championship will likewise take place across two calendar years.

Two match days of the group stage will be played in 2024 before competition resumes next year.

Only the top two from each group advance to the semifinals, before play culminates in a two-legged final to be held next May.

Will every nation be represented?

Almost every Southeast Asian nation will compete in some shape or form although the current format saw four lower-ranked AFF member associations vie for one spot in the qualifying playoffs -- which saw Young Elephants (Laos) and Kasuka (Brunei Darussalam) eliminated.

Timor-Leste opted not to enter, as was the case with Australia -- who have been part of the AFF since 2013 after becoming a member of the AFC in 2006.

While the idea is each nation to be represented by their top teams, some clubs like Malaysia Super League giants Johor Darul Ta'zim, current Singapore Premier League champions Albirex Niigata (S) and Liga 1 runners-up Persija Jakarta either declined to participated or were ineligible.

The 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship will thus feature PSM Makassar and Borneo Samarinda (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur City and Terengganu (Malaysia), Buriram United and BG Pathum United (Thailand), Cong An Ha Noi and Dong A Thanh Hoa (Vietnam), Lion City Sailors (Singapore), Kaya FC-Iloilo (Philippines), Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng (Cambodia) and Shan United (Myanmar).

Can the tournament succeed where it previously failed?

Football in Southeast Asia has evolved drastically since 2005.

Domestic competitions are now stable, with some even thriving, and nations such as Thailand and Malaysia have also achieved impressive results on the bigger stage that is the AFC Champions League.

The constant buzz generated when the international ASEAN Championship comes around every two years also suggests that there is an appetite for further regional rivalries -- although only time will tell if this can be replicated at club level.

Most importantly is the fact that the ASEAN Club Championship has managed to fit seamlessly into the calendar, without clashing with either the domestic or AFC competitions.

For teams like Buriram, Lion City Sailors and Kaya who will be competing in the also newly-revamped AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two, it will be intriguing to see how they juggle multiple competitions involving travel -- especially at a time when there is increased attention on the increasing workload of footballers.

If the new season of the ASEAN Club Championship proves it can be complementary -- and not conflicting -- subsequently gaining the buy-in of teams such as JDT will only help the long-term sustainability of the competition.

In any case, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic -- and be excited -- about the international club competition in Southeast Asia.

- Gabriel Tan

AUSTRALIA, SAUDI GET A CHANCE TO ADVANCE BUT JAPAN HAS TO WAIT IN WORLD CUP ASIAN QUALIFYING

 

AP Photo 

Australia and Saudi Arabia are among the Asian Football Confederation heavyweights aiming to secure a spot in the next stage of World Cup qualifying with wins Tuesday, while Japan’s bid to advance will have to wait after North Korea cancelled a home game in Pyongyang.

Just hours after a 1-0 loss to Japan in Tokyo last week, the North Koreans informed tournament organizers that they could not host the return match.

FIFA, the sport’s world governing body, later canceled the qualifier after deciding the game “shall neither be played nor rescheduled” because North Korea couldn’t come up with an alternative venue and there was no room in the calendar for a postponement.

“The matter and match outcome will be referred to the FIFA disciplinary committee,” FIFA announced, which indicates North Korea will be sanctioned with a 3-0 forfeit.

North Korea has so far only one win from three games — all away from home — in Group B of Asia qualifying. Japan has nine points from three consecutive wins.

The top two teams from each of the nine groups will advance to the third round, where Asia’s allocation of eight automatic World Cup slots for 2026 is available.

Like Japan, Saudi Arabia has won all three games so far and can secure its spot in the next stage if it can complete back-to-back wins over Tajikistan in Group G following its win at Riyadh last week.

“We know that Tajikistan is a strong team and has been improving,” Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini said. “It will be a tough game for us but we are looking forward to the challenge.”

AP Photo 

Australia also has nine points and can guarantee its progression to the next stage from Group I with a victory over Lebanon in Canberra. The game was originally scheduled to take place in Beirut but due to the security situation in the region Lebanon remained in Australia following its 2-0 loss in Sydney last week.

Qatar, Iraq and United Arab Emirates also have maximum points and are potentially one win away from the last 18. South Korea, however, slipped up against Thailand with a 1-1 draw in Seoul.

It was South Korea's first appearance since Jurgen Klinsmann was fired as head coach last month following a disappointing Asian Cup campaign,

The teams will meet again in front of an expected sell-out crowd of 60,000 in Bangkok.

“We have to approach the game calmly and with one mind,” South Korea’s interim coach Hwang Sun-hong said. “We know what we need to do, and will do our best.”

Son Heung-min's goal in Seoul last week was his 45th for South Korea, five behind Hwang's mark.

“I hope he breaks my record quickly as he will continue to do well in the future,” said Hwang, who retired in 2002 after playing more than 100 games for South Korea's national team.

The South Koreans leads Group C, three points above Thailand and China, which let a two-goal lead slip against No. 156-ranked Singapore to draw 2-2 last week.

It was the first game under new coach Branko Ivankovic appointed after the Asian Cup in which China exited at the group stage and didn't score a single goal.

“We had a good situation in the first half, but I told the players that 2-0 was a dangerous score,” Ivankovic said. “We were prepared to take three points but we only took one and now we are looking forward to the next match. We know what we have to do.”

- JOHN DUERDEN

JAPAN PREPARES TO HOST QND THEN TRAVEL TO NORTH KOREA FOR BACK-TO-BACK FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

 Even with the top continental ranking and players of vast international experience, Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan squad faces a journey into the unknown in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against North Korea.

Asian qualifying resumes Thursday with Japan hosting North Korea in Tokyo. Five days later, Japan will be playing in Pyongyang in front of a potential crowd of 50,000 — almost exclusively North Korean — at the Kim Il Sung Stadium.

The Japan Football Association’s request that the match be moved from the North Korean capital to a neutral venue amid concerns over a lack of operational transparency — including visa and logistics information — was rejected by the Asian Football Confederation.

“There are probably a lot of unexpected things that could happen,” Moriyasu, the Japan coach, said. “We just need to be prepared.″

Japan has tallied 10 goals in its opening two matches against Myanmar and Syria in the second round of Asian qualifying. Back-to-back wins over North Korea, which lost 1-0 to Syria before responding with a 6-1 win over Myanmar, could assure it progresses to the third round as one of the top two teams in Group B.

But Japan's national men's team hasn't played in Pyongyang since a 2011 loss to North Korea in the qualifying stages for the 2014 World Cup.

The last men's international in Pyongyang was back in 2019, when the visiting South Korea team complained about a lack of contact with the outside world and an overly physical approach from the host team.

When Japan beat North Korea at the Asian Games in October, players from the losing team manhandled the referee.