AFC Asian Cup, due in January 2027, postponed by almost a year

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the continental governing body, postponed the Asian Cup, which had been scheduled for January 2027 in Saudi Arabia. The new timing pushed the tournament back by almost a year.

The decision came weeks after the Korea Football Association (KFA) named Roberto Moreno, a Spanish coach who previously led Spain's national team, as interim head coach in early September 2026. His initial remit covered a run of friendlies through late November, and the KFA said he could stay on for the Asian Cup subject to an evaluation. Security concerns in the region had been reported as a possible factor in the tournament's future.

The postponement mattered because it removed the main competitive goal that Moreno's short-term job was tied to. With no tournament on the near horizon, it was unclear how long his interim role would last or whether the KFA would seek a permanent coach. It also meant the November matches in Doha, against Saudi Arabia and Qatar, became the main test of his work with the squad.