Leeds United handed six-game Ao Tanaka boost as 2027 Asian Cup decision confirmed
Leeds United and other Premier League teams were due to lose players for a period in January.
Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka will be freshly available for his club early next year following the postponement of the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
The tournament was due to take place between January 7 and February 5 next year, with Japan one of 24 teams involved. But speculation as to whether the competition could go ahead arose following a missile attack on Riyadh Airport that killed 13 people in October.
On Tuesday, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed plans to reschedule the competition 11 months down the line ‘in light of the current exceptional circumstances arising from developments in the region, including substantial logistical complexities and travel disruptions’. The revised competition runs from December 23, 2027 until January 21, 2028.
The Japanese FA confirmed the news in a statement which read: “The Japan Football Association (JFA) announces that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has decided to change the dates for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. The revised dates for the tournament will be from December 23, 2027 to January 21, 2028.”
JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto added: “We respect the AFC's decision to change the dates of the Asian Cup, which prioritizes the safety of players, staff, supporters, and media. We will continue to work with all relevant parties to ensure that the Japanese national team can make the best possible preparations for the tournament.”
The postponement, which still needs to be approved by FIFA, means Tanaka will remain with Leeds during a busy period for the club. Initially, the midfielder was due to miss at least two Premier League games - at home to Manchester City on January 6 and at Tottenham Hotspur on January 16 - plus as FA Cup third round in between.
Progression to the final for Japan - who were one of the favourites - could have seen Tanaka absent for Leeds’ Premier League meetings with Chelsea, Coventry City and Bournemouth, the latter taking place on February 6 - one day after the initial final date. With the tournament no longer going ahead, Tanaka should now be available for all of the above.
A number of Tanaka’s Japan teammates also play for Premier League rivals including Zion Suzuki (Aston Villa), Daizen Maeda (Ipswich Town) and Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace). Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov of Uzbekistan would also have been away on international duty.