Vietnam among 12 national teams face coaching dilemma after Asian Cup 2027 delay

The AFC on Tuesday officially announced that the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia would be rescheduled from its original dates of January 7 to February 5, 2027, to December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028.

The decision was attributed to security concerns and logistical difficulties in the Middle East.

The revised schedule is still awaiting approval from FIFA.

The postponement has disrupted the personnel plans of several national teams, as many coaching contracts were originally structured to expire shortly after the tournament under its previous schedule.

Asian Cup postponed, coaches' contracts set to expire

Vietnam are among the teams directly affected.

Head coach Kim Sang Sik's contract with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is set to expire in early 2027, several months before the rescheduled Asian Cup begins in December.

The South Korean coach initially signed a two-year contract in May 2024, with an automatic one-year extension clause if he achieved the agreed sporting targets.

Following his successes at the ASEAN Championship and SEA Games, the extension clause was activated.

Iraq face a similar situation, although their financial circumstances make the challenge even more complicated.

According to Shafaq News, head coach Graham Arnold's contract runs from August 1, 2026, to February 20, 2027, with a monthly salary of US$75,000.

Notably, the Australian coach agreed to only a six-month extension, despite the Iraqi Football Association previously offering him a four-year deal.

On Tuesday, Winwin cited a senior Iraqi football official as saying that the combined monthly salary bill for Arnold and the coaching staff amounts to $150,000-160,000, placing considerable pressure on the federation's budget.

The two parties had originally agreed to discuss Arnold's future after the Asian Cup.

However, with the tournament now postponed by nearly a year, Iraq must reconsider whether to continue paying a substantial sum to retain the coach who guided the national team to the 2026 FIFA World Cup or explore alternative options.

Even hosts Saudi Arabia are facing a contractual headache.

According to an official announcement by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, Georgios Donis was appointed head coach on April 23, 2026, on a contract running until July 2027.

This means Donis' deal will expire some five months before the rescheduled tournament begins.

Therefore, Saudi Arabia must consider extending his contract or appointing a new coach during a crucial period of preparation.

Similar challenges across several other countries

Singapore face a comparable situation.

Head coach Gavin Lee signed an 18-month contract when he was officially appointed on November 28, 2025, according to CNA.

As such, his deal is expected to expire around May 2027, approximately seven months before the Asian Cup.

Jordan appointed Moroccan coach Badou Zaki on July 19, 2026, on a one-year contract, with the possibility of an extension by mutual agreement.

According to Jordan news agency Petra, his primary mission is to lead Jordan at the 2027 Asian Cup.

Kuwait also face uncertainty over Portuguese coach Helio Sousa.

He signed a two-year contract in late July 2025, which is due to expire in the summer of 2027.

In September, Kuwaiti football officials reaffirmed their intention to retain Sousa through the Asian Cup, regardless of the team's results at the Gulf Cup.

In Uzbekistan, Football Association vice-president Ravshan Irmatov confirmed that Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro's contract runs until October 2027, some two months before the tournament.

Also, Syria's head coach Jose Lana is contracted until August 2027.

In Qatar, coach Julen Lopetegui’s contract has been announced as running until 2027.

German-based football website Transfermarkt lists June 30, 2027, as the expiry date, although the Qatar Football Association has not publicly confirmed that specific date.

Beyond the teams whose coaches' contracts are set to expire before the tournament, Australia and Japan must also reassess their plans.

Australia’s head coach Tony Popovic agreed to an extension that runs only until after the Asian Cup under the original schedule, despite previously receiving an offer of a four-year contract.

Japan, meanwhile, have already announced plans for head coach Hajime Moriyasu to hand over the national team to Go Oiwa after the Asian Cup.

The postponement could force the Japanese Football Association to reconsider the timing of that transition.

South Korea are also dealing with uncertainty, currently relying on interim coach Robert Moreno, whose contract runs until November 27, 2026, with the possibility of an extension depending on his results.

The delay of the 2027 Asian Cup has created far more than a scheduling problem.

It has placed numerous football federations in a difficult position, forcing them to choose between increasing their budgets to retain their coaches, renegotiating existing contracts or risking a change of leadership ahead of Asia's biggest international football tournament.