The Asian Cup Moriyasu is meant to win — holders Qatar, and Indonesia first

The presser's next question: who is the opponent

At the conference, president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto explained why Japan are keeping Moriyasu for only half a year: to win the Asian Cup. It is the most important tournament after the World Cup, he said, and he wants Japan to bring the strength they have shown in Asia and take the title (Nikkei). So at the tournament Japan are meant to win, who stands in front of them? That was settled back in May.

The 2027 Asian Cup will be hosted by Saudi Arabia for the first time, from January 7 to February 5, with 24 nations. The draw was held in Diriyah, near Riyadh, on May 9, and Japan landed in Group F alongside Qatar, Indonesia and Thailand — a group that packs an established power in with two Southeast Asian sides.

Qatar — the three-peat hunters who name-check Japan

The biggest name in Group F is Qatar. They are the reigning champions, winners in both 2019 and 2023, and a third straight title would match Iran's three-in-a-row from the 1960s and 70s. Their coach is Julen Lopetegui, and after the draw he sized Japan up plainly. "Japan is one of the leaders in Asian football, always," he said. "They have quality players, and we have to believe in ourselves" (Al Jazeera/AP). The holders' manager did not hide his wariness, and put Japan's name to it. For a Japan side chasing the title, Qatar are an obstacle they will have to clear at some point.

Indonesia first, then Thailand

By local reporting, Japan's opening match is expected to be against Indonesia. Indonesia are led by John Herdman, appointed this year, who frames the 2027 Asian Cup as the key to the country's 2030 World Cup push and has set a quarterfinal as the target (Antara). Local outlets have called Group F a "group of death," but took the draw with the powers as a stage to measure themselves against, not a complaint (Tempo and others). This is not a soft opener for Japan. The other side, Thailand, are a familiar Southeast Asian opponent Japan have met many times, with a stubborn defense and a counter-punch.

What the tournament means for Japan

Japan hold the record with four Asian Cup titles (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011). But the last time they stood at the top was 2011; in 2019 they lost the final and finished runners-up. The "title" Miyamoto is talking about would be Japan's first in 16 years and their fifth overall. It is Moriyasu's last job with the senior team, and the marker he is meant to reach before handing the baton to Go Oiwa next March. For a Japan side that went out of the North-Central American World Cup in the round of 32, beaten 2-1 by Brazil, the Asian Cup is also the first competitive tournament after that exit — the next real test, half a year on, waiting in the Middle East.

The format sends the top two from each of the six groups, plus the four best third-placed teams, into the round of 16. Out of Group F, two places to be contested with the holders Qatar. The exact fixtures, venues, and the squad Moriyasu will call up are all still to be decided. This autumn's friendlies, and the first squad list that follows, will be the earliest clue.