AFC and Qatar Airways announce global partnership

Fri, 15 Dec, 2023

AFC and Qatar Airways announce global partnership

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Qatar Airways Group have signed a global partnership set to transform the fan experience at Asian football competitions in the coming years. 

The partnership will run from 2023 to 2029 in time for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, which kicks off on 12 January, 2024. The package of rights also includes other key competitions such as the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™, AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Qatar 2024, AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ 2024, 2026 and 2028, as well as all AFC youth national team competitions during the period.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/2998038.html

Player to Watch: Alimardon Shukurov (Kyrgyz Republic)

Fri, 15 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Alimardon Shukurov (Kyrgyz Republic)

Kuala Lumpur: Having first qualified for the AFC Asian Cup™ in 2019, Kyrgyz Republic will once again participate in the upcoming edition with Alimardon Shukurov a vital cog in their midfield.

Since bursting onto the national team scene in late 2019, the 24-year-old midfielder’s upward trajectory continues and he is now all set to appear in Qatar in just under a month.

Player to Watch: Son Heung-min (Korea Republic)

Thu, 14 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Son Heung-min (Korea Republic)

Kuala Lumpur: Son Heung-min will line-up in Qatar for his fourth crack at leading Korea Republic to their first AFC Asian Cup™ title since 1960 in some of the best form of his career.

The 31-year-old returns to the scene of his first appearance at the continental championship and to where he scored his first goal in his nation’s colours, after coming off the bench to strike in a 4-1 group stage win over India back in 2011.
 
That campaign ended at the semi-final stage for the Koreans and while the nation’s continental drought has continued, Son has flourished to become one of Asian football’s best known faces.

Player to Watch: Musa Al Taamari (Jordan)

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Musa Al Taamari (Jordan)

Kuala Lumpur: Five years ago, Musa Al Taamari was making his first steps in the AFC Cup™ on loan at Jordanian club Al Jazira. Today he has already broken all sorts of records to stake a claim for being the greatest player his country has ever produced.

As Jordan dream of surpassing their best-ever AFC Asian Cup™ result - quarter-final finishes in 2004 and 2011 - the hopes of the nation rest on the shoulders of their 26-year-old mercurial winger Al Taamari, a man nicknamed by many as ‘The Jordanian Messi’.
 
The unlimited ambition of the Amman-born player has seen him climb new heights season after season since making his senior debut for Shabab Al Ordon and Jordan in 2016. His six AFC Cup goals at Al Jazeera helped the Jordanian side reach the West Zonal Final for the first time in their history in the 2018 edition, and soon after he was on his way to start a European adventure that has seen him play in three countries so far.

Player to Watch: Takefusa Kubo (Japan)

Tue, 12 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Takefusa Kubo (Japan)

Kuala Lumpur: Takefusa Kubo burst onto the global football scene with bags of potential and the 22-year-old Japanese winger has been truly delivering on that promise in recent times. 

After guiding Real Sociedad to a fourth-place finish in La Liga and helping them qualify for the UEFA Champions League during his debut campaign, Kubo has maintained his fine form for the Basque club by weighing in with goals and assists in the Spanish top flight so far this season. 
 
Kubo's impressive numbers will be music to the ears of Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu as the Samurai Blue look to go one step further at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ after finishing as runners-up at the 2019 edition.

Player to Watch: Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran)

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Mehdi Taremi (IR Iran)

Kuala Lumpur: Strikers from the Islamic Republic of Iran have long had to live in the shadow of those who have gone before them, such is the depth of historic talent to have led the line for Team Melli.

But over the last eight years Mehdi Taremi has established himself as a star in his own right for both club and country, joining the greats of Iranian football.