Key Takeaways:
- The Japanese Football Federation has reportedly begun investigating options to split from the AFC due to corruption allegations involving Qatar and Saudi Arabia
- Japan’s proposal could see Asia’s football landscape divided into East and West regions, each with separate World Cup qualifiers and an equal share of the continent’s eight direct World Cup spots
- Japan is thought to have initiated talks with China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia regarding their plans, though no official confirmation has been made
Japan Considers AFC Separation Over Alleged Corruption
The Japanese Football Federation is reportedly contemplating groundbreaking action, with sources suggesting the nation has begun exploring the possibility of splitting from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). While there has been no formal acknowledgment from the federation, media reports in Japan indicate that discussions and investigations are already underway to assess several routes to potentially disengage from Asian football’s governing body.
😲 🇯🇵 Japan consider leaving the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) and creating 'East Asian Federation'!
🧐 🇶🇦 Qatar's manipulation and corruption within the AFC noted as 🇯🇵 Japan's main reason!
✍️ Reports still unofficial, and issues mostly connected to AFC Champions League. pic.twitter.com/6kGVvoK005
— Football Rankings (@FootRankings) October 17, 2025
Accusations Towards Qatar and Saudi Arabia
The motivation behind this drastic move stems from allegations of corruption involving Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as their perceived influence within FIFA. According to football officials in Japan, major decisions in the AFC are allegedly made only with the agreement of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, underscoring the extent of their sway over regional football governance.
The latest catalyst for Japanese discontent came during the most recent World Cup qualification round, which, according to Japanese sources, was organised in a manner that benefitted the two Gulf nations. Despite Japan already having secured their place at the World Cup several months earlier and being unaffected by the outcome, officials argue that the wider Asian football ecosystem is adversely impacted by the activities and influence of Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Proposed Restructuring and Potential Obstacles
Japan’s most immediate strategy involves a fundamental division of Asian football into two geographic factions – East and West. This approach would see eastern and southeastern Asian countries conducting segregated qualification campaigns, hypothetically mitigating the challenges of long-distance travel and significant time zone differences. Under this system, Asia’s eight direct qualification spots for the World Cup would be split equally, with four allocated to each newly formed confederation.
However, there is significant scepticism that the initiative will be implemented, since there currently exists no legal framework permitting a member nation to exit the AFC, especially as the corruption allegations remain unproven and may never be officially substantiated. As a consequence, Japan has also considered a less likely contingency plan: seeking entry into the North American confederation, although this is regarded as even more improbable.
Early Regional Consultations
Reports suggest that Japan has initiated preliminary discussions regarding these reforms with other prominent Asian footballing nations including China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Nevertheless, no formal announcement has been made, and the proposals remain the subject of ongoing internal deliberation within Japanese football circles.
