Japan plans to leave the AFC and form a new alliance, with South Korea and China possibly joining.

Regional media reveal that the Japan Football Association is seriously considering exiting the AFC due to dissatisfaction with the organization's management and controversial decisions.

According to Iraq's UTV channel, the Japan Football Association (JFA) has held multiple internal discussions regarding withdrawing from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). This stems from Japan's dissatisfaction with a series of decisions deemed lacking transparency and fairness by the AFC in recent times.

The trigger point is believed to be the AFC's alteration of the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite format, concentrating all key stages in Saudi Arabia. This arrangement disadvantages East Asian teams such as Yokohama F. Marinos and Kawasaki Frontale due to travel, weather, and scheduling issues, while West Asian representatives benefit greatly. Many within the JFA argue this "distorts the competitive nature" of the continent’s top tournament.

Furthermore, controversial rulings during the tournament, especially the mid-competition withdrawal of China’s Shandong Taishan club which nullified the entire group’s results, directly impacted Vissel Kobe’s performance. These ongoing incidents led the JFA to believe the AFC is "inconsistent and disrespectful of sporting values."

Beyond tournament issues, the JFA is reportedly unhappy with the AFC’s handling of internal corruption allegations, considering it severely damages Asian football’s reputation. In response, Japan is contemplating establishing a new organization named the East Asian Football Union, bringing together football-advanced countries in the region like South Korea, North Korea, China, with potential invitations extended to Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

If implemented, this would mark a major turning point for Asian football’s structure. Japan is currently not only one of the strongest football nations in the region but also a significant financial investor and commercial influence within the AFC. Tokyo’s departure could profoundly alter the league systems, broadcasting rights, and power dynamics of the AFC.

On the other hand, many experts believe this move, if true, reflects Japan’s desire to reshape the competitive environment into a fairer and more modern one. For the national team, avoiding long trips to the Middle East for tournaments could also reduce the burden on players active in Europe.

However, it is important to emphasize that this information originates from a single Iraqi media source. So far, the JFA has not made any official confirmation. Fans and observers are awaiting the Japan Football Association’s response in the coming days, as such a development would certainly usher in a turbulent era for Asian football.

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