Yunus Nusi: Many countries ask about rumors of Japan and Korea leaving AFC
Yunus Nusi said many AFC members asked about rumors of Japan and South Korea leaving AFC on the sidelines of the event in Riyadh; JFA denied on October 21, organizational controversy still smoldering.
PSSI Secretary General Yunus Nusi said that some members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) questioned him about rumors that Japan and South Korea intend to leave the AFC. He made the statement during a press conference at the Gelora Bung Karno National Stadium (Jakarta) on Friday, October 24, 2025. Previously, the Japan Football Association (JFA) had completely denied this rumor on October 21.
Background and developments
According to Mr. Yunus Nusi, PSSI representative met many AFC members when attending the AFC Awards 2025 Ceremony held in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). "A few days ago, I and the PSSI Vice President just returned from Riyadh after attending the AFC conference," he said at a press conference on October 24.
"Some countries in the AFC have asked us about the rumours that Japan and South Korea want to leave the AFC. This is not good for Asian football," said Mr. Nusi. These exchanges took place in the context of the debate on how to organize continental tournaments that has not yet subsided.
Origin of the rumor and official response
Previously, Middle Eastern media spread information that Japan and South Korea were considering leaving the AFC to form an independent East Asian alliance, citing objections to "Qatar's influence" and the issue of "transparency within the AFC".
However, the Japanese version of Football Tribe on October 21 quoted a source close to the JFA as firmly denying: "This information is completely baseless. We don't know where it came from. This is just a ridiculous rumor." Thus, officially, the JFA has no plans to leave the AFC.
Organizational strategy and bottlenecks
Despite the JFA’s denials, there is real dissatisfaction with some of the AFC’s decisions within Japanese football. The decision to hold the AFC Champions League Elite knockout rounds in the Middle East has been widely criticised for allegedly disadvantaging East Asian clubs. Similar controversies have also emerged in the AFC-administered 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
From a governance perspective, this is a matter of balancing the interests between East Asia and West Asia, and at the same time a test of transparency in the decision-making mechanism. The questions that AFC members raised with PSSI show the level of concern and sensitivity of the issue, although the information about leaving AFC has been denied.
Important statistics and timelines
| Mold | Detail |
|---|---|
| 21/10/2025 | Football Tribe Japan quoted a source close to JFA to completely deny the rumor that Japan left AFC. |
| Riyadh, 2025 | PSSI representatives met with AFC members on the sidelines of the AFC Awards 2025 Ceremony and attended the AFC conference. |
| 24/10/2025 | Press conference at Gelora Bung Karno: Yunus Nusi said some countries asked about rumors of Japan and South Korea leaving AFC. |
Reaction and consequences
Yunus Nusi’s remarks reflect the focus of attention within the AFC, but also reaffirm the reality: the JFA has publicly denied the rumors. On the other hand, criticisms surrounding the venue and the organization process show that the need for dialogue and improved transparency remains great.
Impact on the Asian situation
In the short term, the incident highlights the sensitivity of regional balance and the weight of organisational work in the AFC’s image. In the long term, continued dialogue between the parties involved could help reduce suspicion and move towards a more mutually agreed upon governing mechanism. Meanwhile, the current stance is clear: there are no plans for the JFA to leave the AFC.
