An official decision reshuffles the deck: the Asian Cup changes its dates
The Saudi edition will be the last under the current system: the Asian Football Confederation returns to the old tradition
The Asian Football Confederation have announced sweeping amendments to their statutes, a move that could redraw the administrative landscape of Asian football and usher in a new era with the dates of the AFC Asian Cup set to change.
Meeting for an extraordinary session in the Japanese capital Tokyo today, Friday, the AFC General Assembly unanimously approved a package of amendments to the statutes, including transitional provisions to organise the coming phase of governance within the Confederation.
Why now? The changes answer the anticipated overhaul of the international match calendar that FIFA intends to make. They follow consultations with the world body, aimed at keeping the AFC's electoral cycle in step with the dates of its major tournaments.
The Asian Cup changes its date starting from 2032
Chief among the changes is the shift of the Asian Cup from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years from the 2032 edition, part of the ongoing development of the international match calendar, according to a statement on the Confederation's official website.
Saudi Arabia will host the 2027 Asian Cup, the last edition in an odd-numbered year. The next tournament then moves to 2032, with its venue yet to be decided.
That takes the Asian showpiece back to even-numbered years for the first time since 2004.
The amended system keeps the Asian elections aligned with the dates of the continental tournament. It allows the Executive Committee to continue overseeing the competition through its crucial stages, delivering stability in administrative decisions and operational processes.
Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, President of the Asian Football Confederation, hailed the General Assembly's approval as a step towards strengthening governance and preserving transparency and continuity in a way that serves the future of football on the continent.
Addressing the General Assembly, Sheikh Salman said the decision strengthens governance and ensures that the regulations remain clear and fit for their purpose, adding that the coming phase requires a focus on the collective interest of Asian football, and the continued consolidation of the values of transparency, unity and inclusivity.
2027 elections
Under the new arrangements, the AFC will hold elections for its main leadership positions during 2027, in accordance with the articles specified in the statutes. The winners, though, won't take up their roles immediately. Their term of office begins on 1 January 2028 and runs until 2032.
The current officials, elected for the period from 2023 to 2027, will meanwhile continue in their duties until the end of 2027, in compliance with the electoral term granted to them.
Further details on the upcoming elections will be announced in due course, the Confederation confirmed, as the new amendments pave the way to reorganise the relationship between the electoral commitments and the most important tournament at national team level on the continent.
