Japan Football Association President Junji Ogura said Wednesday the country's new manager is now unlikely to be chosen by Sunday.
"I want all of you to wait a little longer," Ogura told reporters. "We hope to reach a final decision next week."
The JFA had said it has a shortlist of three to succeed World Cup coach Takeshi Okada — none of whom have officially been named — and was hoping to sign one of them by the end of this week.
But the JFA has yet to receive good word from technical director Hiromi Hara, who is handling the negotiations with the candidates. The candidates are all foreigners.
Even if signed, a visa for the new coach may not be issued in time for Japan's rematch with Paraguay on Sept. 4 at Nissan Stadium, the first match since they were eliminated by the South Americans on penalties in the second round of the World Cup finals.
"If we can sign a deal next week, it will allow enough time to issue a visa, I believe," Ogura said.