Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guangzhou: Two-time AFC Champions League winner Elkeson believes his experience scoring goals against the Continent’s best for Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG can help push China PR towards the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Finals after the Brazil-born striker secured Chinese citizenship last month.
The 30-year-old has been included in Marcello Lippi’s squad for their upcoming Asian Qualifiers tie against the Maldives on Tuesday after being granted citizenship, becoming the first player without Chinese heritage to be selected to play for the country.
And after helping Guangzhou win the AFC Champions League title in 2013 and 2015 while also claiming four Chinese Super League titles – three with Guangzhou and one with Shanghai – he is confident he can boost China’s FIFA World Cup qualification hopes.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Guam and the Philippines will be aiming for winning starts when they begin their respective FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers' campaigns on Thursday.
Guam face Maldives in the opening match of the second round of the Asian Qualifiers while Philippines will face Syria later in the day.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Manila: Philippines assistant coach Scott Cooper is calling upon his Azkals players to make home advantage work for them as they embark on their attempt to secure a spot in the next round of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.
The Filipinos booked a place at the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in the United Arab Emirates earlier this year and Cooper – who worked alongside Sven-Goran Eriksson at the Finals and who is now working alongside new coach Goran Milojevic – is expecting another strong showing from the Southeast Asian nation.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As coaches announce their national team squads ahead of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023, the eight AFC Champions League quarter-finalists are sending 45 players on the first steps along the road to Qatar 2022 and China 2023.
With the first leg of the 2019 AFC Champions League quarter-finals already concluded and the international break descending to bring respite to club football, eyes of Asian football fans turn to the intriguing opening rounds of the Asian Qualifiers to be played on Thursday and Tuesday.
Fans of the AFC Champions League quarter-finalists will have one eye on their respective club players looking to star at national team level. A total of 45 players will be representing six of the eight sides, with none coming from the two J.League clubs, Kashima Antlers and Urawa Red Diamonds.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: From wily veterans to willing novices, the men charged with leading the 40 nations seeking to advance to the next phase of qualifying for the the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 will be putting the finishing touches to the preparations as the countdown to kick off the second round of the Asian Qualifiers ticks ever louder.
The range in know-how between those taking part is vast, and no one brings more experience to the campaign than Marcello Lippi, the man who led Italy to their fourth world title in 2006 and who is charged with ending China PR’s lengthy FIFA World Cup drought.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: History will be made in Pyongyang on October 15 when Korea Republic travel to face DPR Korea in their Asian Qualifiers tie for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 as the neighbouring rivals meet on the pitch in a competitive fixture in the northern nation for the first time.
The encounter – the first of two in Group H featuring the Koreans, with the second in Seoul on June 4, 2020 – headlines the second round of qualifying for the two tournaments that has thrown up an array of fascinating clashes that will often see traditional rivals go head-to-head for a berth in the next round of the campaign for places in Qatar and China PR.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Doha: At 18 years of age, Hoshang Noor Ali’s chance at a top-flight football career looked to have passed him by but seven years on, he stands on the verge of making his international debut when Afghanistan’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers campaign begins against Qatar on Thursday.
In doing so, Noor Ali will swap the third tier of Canadian football for a meeting with the Asian champions and, as he exclusively told the-AFC.com, his journey from the local league to the world stage is a tale of extraordinary perseverance.
“I had no opportunity anymore, so in my head I said, “Okay, I give up’” and I decided to go study, get a diploma or just go and find myself some work," said the Afghanistan national team’s newest call-up.