Ipswich Town have been handed a seismic, unexpected boost for their 2026-27 Premier League campaign, as star attacker Daizen Maeda will no longer miss a single minute of action during the critical mid-season winter stretch.
The 29-year-old speedster was originally slated to depart Suffolk for international duty with Japan at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, scheduled to run from January 7 through February 5.
However, official tournament organizers have been forced to postpone the entire competition due to ongoing security concerns and instability across the Middle East.
With the Asian Cup officially rescheduled for a far later window—stretching from December 23, 2027, to January 21, 2028—Kieran McKenna’s squad avoids what could have been a devastating mid-season selection crisis.
The Avoided Nightmare: 6 Key Matches Maeda Was Set to Miss
Had Japan’s tournament run proceeded as planned, the former Celtic dynamic winger would have been unavailable for an extended six-game gauntlet across the Premier League and FA Cup.
As one of the outright favorites to lift the trophy in Saudi Arabia, Japan’s deep knockout run would have stripped Ipswich of their focal attack during a make-or-break phase of the season:
- Coventry City (H): January 6
- Bournemouth (A): Mid-January
- Hull City (H): Late January
- Aston Villa (A): Late January
- Tottenham Hotspur (H): Early February
- FA Cup Third-Round Tie: Plus mandatory rest periods that would have severely limited his availability for a high-profile showdown against Arsenal (H).
Instead of losing their 33-cap international centerpiece for over a month, Ipswich will have Maeda’s high-octane pressing, speed, and versatility fully available to lead the frontline throughout January.
International Break Awaits: Brazil and Paraguay Tests in Singapore
While Maeda remains fully locked in for Ipswich’s upcoming domestic fixtures, he will still join up with Hajime Moriyasu’s national squad for the upcoming November international window.
Japan are scheduled to play high-profile international friendly matches in Singapore:
- vs. Brazil: November 14
- vs. Paraguay: November 17 (featuring a mouth-watering head-to-head clash against Ipswich teammate Julio Enciso)
Having recorded five goals across 33 senior international caps since his senior debut in 2019, Maeda continues to be a vital weapon for both club and country.
A Second Life for Kieran McKenna’s Attack
For Kieran McKenna and the Portman Road faithful, avoiding a month-long absence for Daizen Maeda acts as a massive “new signing” injection without spending a single penny in the January transfer market.
With Ipswich working tirelessly to fix defensive vulnerabilities and convert tight draws into crucial top-flight points, keeping Maeda fit, firing, and on English soil during the winter freeze could be the exact factor that secures Ipswich’s Premier League survival.
