#AFCCup: Teams learn path to glory

Thu, 28 Dec, 2023

#AFCCup: Teams learn path to glory

Kuala Lumpur: The road to AFC Cup™ 2023/24 glory has been cast in stone following the official draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

Eleven teams progressed from the Group Stage of the 19th edition of the iconic tournament, which kicked off in September and featured 36 teams from across the Confederation’s five Zones.

#ACL Knockout Stage Draw produces thrillers

Thu, 28 Dec, 2023

#ACL Knockout Stage Draw produces thrillers

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 knockout stage has all the ingredients to be an exciting affair following the official draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

Six former Asian champions were among the teams who advanced to the knockout stage, with the Round of 16 scheduled to be played in February.

#AsianCup2023 - 5 Legends

Thu, 28 Dec, 2023

#AsianCup2023 - 5 Legends

Kuala Lumpur: Some of Asia’s biggest superstars as well as its most promising young talents will be in action as 24 nations from across the continent battle each other for supremacy in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ which gets underway on January 12. 

The continental showpiece, entering its 18th edition, has provided the perfect stage for many to write their names into Asian football folklore and a number of players have grown their legends with stellar displays during the tournament’s 67-year history. 
 
With the excitement building ahead of the latest edition of the tournament, the-AFC.com looks at five such names who weaved magic on the pitch and became synonymous with the AFC Asian Cup.

Son headlines Korea Republic squad

Thu, 28 Dec, 2023

Son headlines Korea Republic squad

Seoul: Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min was named in Korea Republic's AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ squad on Thursday as head coach Jurgen Klinsmann aims to end the country's 64-year continental title drought.

Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan, who scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season against Brentford on Wednesday, was also among Klinsmann's 26-man selection for the tournament, which kicks off on January 12.

Player to Watch: Pham Tuan Hai (Vietnam)

Sat, 23 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Pham Tuan Hai (Vietnam)

Kuala Lumpur: Since reaching the quarter-finals at AFC Asian Cup™ in 2019, Vietnam have seen a number of new stars emerge, and Pham Tuan Hai has developed into one of the most talked-about players in the Southeast Asian nation.

The forward has added new dynamism to an attack that was already brimming with talent as head coach Philippe Troussier – who replaced the long-serving Park Hang-seo earlier in the year – aims to guide the Golden Star Warriors into the knockout rounds for the second successive edition. 
 
Tuan Hai is one that could light up the upcoming AFC Asian Cup, with the in-form Hanoi FC man displaying his considerable potential in the recently concluded AFC Champions League™ 2023-24 group stage.

Player to Watch: Jaliloddin Masharipov (Uzbekistan)

Thu, 28 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Jaliloddin Masharipov (Uzbekistan)

Kuala Lumpur: As one of the most accomplished players in the Srecko Katanec’s side, Jaliloddin Masharipov will take on a leadership role in a squad that seeks to balance youth and experience to launch the country’s challenge for a first-ever AFC Asian Cup™ title.

The winger brings an attacking thrust down the flank and he has developed into one his nation’s key performers during a club career that has seen him play in Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Greece.

Player to Watch: Ali Mabkhout (UAE)

Mon, 25 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Ali Mabkhout (UAE)

Kuala Lumpur: The United Arab Emirates go into the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ aiming to build on their back-to-back semi-final finishes. And just as was the case in 2015 and 2019, Ali Mabkhout will carry the hopes of his nation.

Not many players in Asian football have as many records to their name across club and country, domestic and continental football as 33-year-old Mabkhout, and he travels to Qatar hopeful of breaking one of the most important records of them all.
 
Only two players in the history of the AFC Asian Cup have scored more goals than Mabkhout’s nine goals. The Emirati is one goal short of Korea Republic’s Lee Dong-gook and five behind the competition’s all-time top scorer Ali Daei, both numbers he will be eager to catch up with, starting with Group C matches against IR Iran, Palestine and Hong Kong.