Stir in Asia: Japan is considering breaking away from the AFC and creating its own confederation

The Japanese Football Association (JFA) is considering taking a historic step: leaving the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) due to growing discontent with the organization's management and what they consider excessive benefits for Gulf powers, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar. According to various sources, the Japanese leadership feels harmed by several recent decisions, including the unilateral change in the format of the AFC Elite Champions League, made after Shandong Taishan from China withdrew, and the designation of Qatar and Saudi Arabia as hosts for the fourth round of the Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. These episodes have fueled discontent within the JFA, which is now analyzing an institutional separation project. According to the Iraqi outlet UTV, there is already a "serious movement" in Japan to establish a new independent federation, which would divide the continent into two confederations: an East Asian Federation, led by Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia, among other Eastern teams, and another led by the Gulf countries.

The model would follow the example of America, where two confederations coexist on the same continent: CONMEBOL (South America) and CONCACAF (North and Central America). FIFA has already been notified of this possible split, which, if it happens, would completely reshape the football map of Asia.

AFC qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup

Meanwhile, after the latest FIFA date, the Asian confederation has already determined all its direct qualifiers for the next World Cup: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, South Korea, Australia, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. To definitively close their qualifiers, Iraq and United Arab Emirates will play a two-legged tie in November to determine the spot for the international play-off, where Bolivia and New Caledonia are currently waiting.