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Journey to 2026 begins

Thu, 07 Sep, 2023

Journey to 2026 begins

Kuala Lumpur: The long qualifying road for the FIFA World Cup 26 kicks off on Thursday with teams hoping to take their place amongst the expanded cast of 48 teams.

South American sides will be the first in action with preliminary competitions for Asia and Africa also to take off before the end of the year as nations battle it out for spots at the global Finals.
 
We take a look at the qualifying process and more for the tournament which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and USA.

Stage set for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Qualifiers draw

Wed, 05 Jul, 2023

Stage set for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Qualifiers draw

Kuala Lumpur: All eyes will be on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday, July 27, 2023 for the official draw ceremonies of the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 and Round 2 of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at 2pm and 4pm respectively.

As many as 45 Member Associations (MAs) are expected to discover their road to the 23rd FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. This is the third time that the first two rounds of Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup will also serve as the Qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup™.  

Sanchez steps down as Qatar head coach

Sat, 31 Dec, 2022

Sanchez steps down as Qatar head coach

Doha: Felix Sanchez will not be renewing his contract as head coach of the national football team, Qatar Football Association (QFA) said on Friday.

QFA said both parties decided it was a good moment to begin a new chapter when Sanchez's contract expires on Saturday. 
 
The decision comes after Qatar's maiden FIFA World Cup campaign ended in the group stage with the hosts suffering three defeats in Group A.

Moriyasu stays as Japan head coach

Wed, 28 Dec, 2022

Moriyasu stays as Japan head coach

Tokyo: Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu will stay in his job after leading the Samurai Blue to the last 16 at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the Japan Football Association said on Wednesday.

While Japan failed to reach the quarter-finals after losing to Croatia on penalties in the Round of 16, they produced stunning wins against Germany and Spain in the group stage.

Qatar 2022: Saudi Arabia stun Argentina in thrilling campaign

Mon, 26 Dec, 2022

Qatar 2022: Saudi Arabia stun Argentina in thrilling campaign

Kuala Lumpur: As the curtains came down on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Saudi Arabia would have smiled even though they missed out on a place in the knockout stage.

Lionel Messi may have hoisted the trophy but history will show that Saudi Arabia not only were the last team to beat Argentina before they emerged champions for a third time but were also the side to end the South American side's 36-match unbeaten run heading into Qatar 2022. 

The-AFC.com relives Saudi Arabia's thrilling adventure.

Qatar 2022: Steep learning curve for hosts

Wed, 21 Dec, 2022

Qatar 2022: Steep learning curve for hosts

Kuala Lumpur: Qatar headed into the FIFA World Cup 2022 on home soil with minimal expectations in their maiden participation in the global showpiece.

It proved to be a tough yet rewarding experience for head coach Felix Sanchez's players with expectations soaring that Qatar can be regular qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup.

Qatar 2022: Korea Republic show grit and determination

Sat, 24 Dec, 2022

Qatar 2022: Korea Republic show grit and determination

Kuala Lumpur: Korea Republic's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign may have ended in the Round of 16 but the East Asians deserve credit for even getting to the stage after a difficult group stage.

All hope looked lost following their defeat to Ghana but Paulo Bento's side refused to give up.

Join the-AFC.com as we retrace Korea Republic's Qatar 2022 journey.

Qatar 2022: So near yet so far for Japan

Sat, 24 Dec, 2022

Qatar 2022: So near yet so far for Japan

Kuala Lumpur: Japan came within a penalty shoot-out of reaching the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time at Qatar 2022.

Head coach Hajime Moriyasu had unhesitatingly stated that the last eight stage was his target, with Japan having fallen in the Round of 16 on three previous occasions.
 
The-AFC.com takes a look at how Japan just missed out on reaching their target.

Qatar 2022: Heartbreak but IR Iran show quality

Fri, 23 Dec, 2022

Qatar 2022: Heartbreak but IR Iran show quality

Kuala Lumpur: A spot in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time may have eluded Islamic Republic of Iran but it was not for the lack of trying.

Iran gave Qatar 2022 their all and despite suffering disappointment, Carlos Queiroz's side won many hearts with their resilience and determination.
 
The-AFC.com revisits Iran's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 campaign.

Qatar 2022: Australia scale new peak

Thu, 22 Dec, 2022

Qatar 2022: Australia scale new peak

Kuala Lumpur: The curtains came down on the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Sunday with Argentina lifting the trophy for a third time after a thrilling win over France at the Lusail Stadium.

In masterminding Argentina's triumph, Lionel Messi ensured his trophy cabinet now has the one title that he really craved.

While Messi and Argentina bask in glory, the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 also saw Asia's cast making their impact felt in the global showpiece. The-AFC.com revisits the Asian performance, starting with Australia.

Qatar 2022: Asia in Numbers

Wed, 21 Dec, 2022

Qatar 2022: Asia in Numbers

Doha: The 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup will be remembered as one of the finest as Qatar hosted a spectacular festival of football that produced classic matches, incredible upsets, late drama and, in the end, saw Lionel Messi finally get his hands on the prize he craved most.

For the Asian Football Confederation, meanwhile, it was collectively a best-ever campaign as the six sides from the continent posted some of the greatest results in their history as they broke new ground on the world stage. 

With the sun now set on Qatar 2022, the-AFC.com highlights some of the stats and facts that caught the eye with Asia’s six representatives.

Asian Highs at Qatar 2022

Tue, 20 Dec, 2022

Asian Highs at Qatar 2022

Doha: The dust is settling on an exceptional FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and Asia can look back at the tournament with much pride as teams from the continent produced some of the most stunning results in their history. 

Four years ago at Russia 2018, Asia recorded its highest points tally in a FIFA World Cup and that feat was topped in Qatar as, for the very first time, three teams representing the Asian Football Confederation made it to the knockout stages.
 
Australia, Japan and Korea Republic were the nations who scripted history with their Round of 16 appearances, but the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who hosted a truly superb FIFA World Cup, all had tournaments which they can look back on with fond memories. 
 
With Argentina’s triumph over France in a thrilling finale at Lusail Stadium on Sunday bringing the curtain down on a competition that will live long in the memory, the-AFC.com looks back at some of Asia’s best moments from Qatar 2022 as the FIFA World Cup visited the continent for only the second time.