Soccer: Japan would leave the Asian confederation and create a new one in the east of the continent

Soccer: Japan would leave the Asian confederation and create a new one in the east of the continent

October 20, 2025 – 20:48

The JFA is considering leaving the AFC due to alleged favoritism towards the Gulf countries. The project contemplates adding South Korea, China and Australia in a new regional structure.

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The Japan Football Association (JFA) analyzes a historic change in continental football: leave the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and promote the creation of a East Asian Federationwhich would group Pacific powers such as South Korea, China and Australia. The decision responds to discomfort over decisions considered partial in favor of the Gulf countries.

According to different sources, the unrest within the JFA deepened due to a series of measures taken by the AFC which, in Japan’s opinion, systematically harm the Eastern federations.

Among the main triggers are the Unilateral reform of the Champions League format decided after the withdrawal of the Chinese club Shandong Taishan, and the designation of Qatar and Saudi Arabia as venues for the fourth round of the qualifiers towards the 2026 World Cup, which Tokyo interprets as a “structural favoritism towards Gulf countries”.

The Japanese project, still in the study phase, proposes founding a new confederation inspired by the American model of Conmebol and Concacafdividing the continent into two regions: the current AFC, concentrated in the Gulf and West Asia, and a “East Asian Federation” made up of Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, Indonesia and other Pacific nations.

If completed, the initiative would represent a profound change in the structure of Asian football. It could modify the World Cup qualification system, the distribution of places, continental governance and even the international club calendar.

Although the JFA has not yet issued an official statement, media such as UTV from Iraq they maintain that FIFA has already been notified about the possibility of a split. If confirmed, the departure of Japan, accompanied by other Eastern powers, could mark the start of a new era in Asian footballwith two clearly differentiated poles of power.

The Japanese team She is already classified for the next World Cupan appointment to which she was the first in the world, without counting the hosts.

World Cup 2026: which teams have qualified so far

The World Cupwhich will have 48 teams for the first time, will begin on June 11, with its opening match at the Azteca Stadium, and the new champion will be known on July 19. With the classification of South Africa 28 of the 48 teams that will participate in the World Cup have already been decided.

Cape Verde was the most recent to join. This Tuesday Ivory Coast and Senegal also got their places, and in the playoff, in addition to Nigeria, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon will end up. The list of those classified so far is as follows:

  • Canada (host)
  • Mexico (host)
  • United States (host)
  • Japan (Asia)
  • New Zealand (Oceania)
  • Iran (Asia)
  • Argentina (South America)
  • Uzbekistan (Asia)
  • South Korea (Asia)
  • Jordan (Asia)
  • Australia (Asia)
  • Brazil (South America)
  • Ecuador (South America)
  • Uruguay (South America)
  • Colombia (South America)
  • Paraguay (South America)
  • Morocco (Africa)
  • Tunisia (Africa)
  • Egypt (Africa)
  • Algeria (Africa)
  • Ghana (Africa)
  • Cape Verde (Africa)
  • South Africa (Africa)
  • Qatar (Asia)
  • England (Europe)
  • Saudi Arabia (Asia)
  • Ivory Coast (Africa)
  • Senegal (Africa)


Source: Ambito

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