AFC News

Shaikh Salman: “We can expect more history from our teams in Uzbekistan”

Wed, 04 Sep, 2024

Shaikh Salman: “We can expect more history from our teams in Uzbekistan”

Kuala Lumpur: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has outlined his confidence in Uzbekistan ahead of the FIFA Futsal World Cup as the host nation prepares to stage its first-ever FIFA tournament in history later this week.

Uzbekistan will become the fourth AFC Member Association to host the FIFA Futsal World Cup, after Hong Kong, China (1992), Chinese Taipei (2004) and Thailand (2012) as the global showpiece takes place across the cities of Andijan, Bukhara and capital Tashkent from September 14 to October 6, 2024.

AFC Grassroots Charter welcomes Palestine FA as latest Silver-level member

Fri, 06 Sep, 2024

AFC Grassroots Charter welcomes Palestine FA as latest Silver-level member

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) welcomed the Palestine Football Association (PFA) as the ninth Silver-level member under the acclaimed AFC Grassroots Charter.

Bestowed with a bronze membership in 2019, the endorsement is testament to the PFA’s dedicated efforts towards enhancing its grassroots programme, despite the ongoing unrest in the country.

Star-studded lineup dispenses wisdom at AFC Elite Club Coaches Forum 2024

Thu, 05 Sep, 2024

Star-studded lineup dispenses wisdom at AFC Elite Club Coaches Forum 2024

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Elite Club Coaches Forum 2024 took place virtually on Wednesday, setting the stage for the new era of AFC club competitions that kick off in two weeks’ time.

Featuring a stellar cast that included former Yokohama F. Marinos and current Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou, Hernán Crespo, head coach of reigning AFC Champions League™ winners Al Ain FC, and Spain’s Rafa Benítez, who guided Liverpool to victory in the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League, the forum provided coaches from Asian clubs with the opportunity to learn from some of the most renowned figures in global football, further underscoring the AFC’s commitment to ensuring the continued success of its teams.

AFC welcomes Earthlink as Official Regional Partner

Wed, 04 Sep, 2024

AFC welcomes Earthlink as Official Regional Partner

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today announced telecommunications provider, Earthlink, as an Official Regional Partner for the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26, which kicks off on September 5, 2024 and runs until November 2025.

The sponsorship encompasses key AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 matches in the territories of Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Palestine and Kuwait, and will see Earthlink collaborate with the AFC to establish unique activations for football fans during home matches taking place in Iraq as the Lions of Mesopotamia look to seal their berth at the global showpiece.

AFC and MNC announce renewal of media rights partnership

Mon, 02 Sep, 2024

AFC and MNC announce renewal of media rights partnership

The partnership includes coverage of all major AFC competitions in the 2025-2028 cycle

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced today the renewal of its media rights partnership with PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk (MNC) for the 2025-2028 cycle in the territories of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.

#ACLElite trophy set to dazzle fans

Mon, 02 Sep, 2024

#ACLElite trophy set to dazzle fans

Kuala Lumpur: Football fans in Asia will have the thrilling opportunity to get up close and personal with the new AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) silverware when it makes its way across the Continent over the course of the 2024/25 campaign.

The magnificent original trophy is set to embark on a Trophy Visit to each of the 12 participating Member Associations of Asia’s elite men’s club competition, with the home of reigning champions Al Ain FC of the United Arab Emirates earmarked as the first stop on the opening matchday of the League Stage on Monday, September 16.

AFC Referee Academy graduate to officiate at #U20WWC

Fri, 30 Aug, 2024

AFC Referee Academy graduate to officiate at #U20WWC

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) reached another significant milestone in its ambition to increase the representation of Asian officials on the global stage with the appointment of China PR’s Dong Fangyu as referee for Saturday’s enticing clash between France and Canada at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024.

This historic appointment will see Dong become the first ever graduate from the AFC Referee Academy to take charge of a match at a FIFA competition, further underlining the Confederation’s commitment towards maximising the potential of its Member Associations and Regional Associations.

Asia’s hopefuls primed for final stretch on Road to 26

Fri, 30 Aug, 2024

Asia’s hopefuls primed for final stretch on Road to 26

Kuala Lumpur: The finishing line is in sight for 18 of the Continent’s national teams as they prepare to resume their qualifying journey for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Thursday, September 5, 2024.

Scheduled to run until June 2025, the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 features three groups of six teams and guarantees qualification to the 23rd FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the top two finishers of each group. Two more berths are available via the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Playoff, with an additional opportunity up for grabs at an InterContinental Playoff.

Spotlight on 2024/25 season at AFC Match Commissioners Seminar 2024

Fri, 30 Aug, 2024

Spotlight on 2024/25 season at AFC Match Commissioners Seminar 2024

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) further underlined its commitment to maximising the potential of its Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) when it conducted the AFC Match Commissioners (MC) Seminar 2024 in the Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur from August 26 to 29, 2024.

With the new era of AFC club competitions set to kick off in a month’s time, the seminar, attended by almost 100 participants, served as an excellent opportunity for existing as well as new MCs to gain an enhanced understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

AFC and Football Australia to extend media partnership

Fri, 23 Aug, 2024

AFC and Football Australia to extend media partnership

Football Australia to continue covering AFC National Team Competitions for second cycle through partnership with Network 10 and Paramount Australia

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Football Australia today announced the renewal of their broadcast partnership, which grants Football Australia the rights to the AFC’s national team competitions from 2025 to 2028. 

Branko Ivankovic takes centre stage in latest Coaches Circle

Thu, 22 Aug, 2024

Branko Ivankovic takes centre stage in latest Coaches Circle

Kuala Lumpur: Croatia’s Branko Ivankovic, whose coaching career spans three decades, stars in the latest edition of Coaches Circle, now available on the-AFC.com.

Ivankovic, currently at the helm of the China PR national team after leading Oman in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, is one of the Continent’s most decorated coaches, having managed some of Asia’s most renowned clubs including the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Persepolis FC, China PR’s Shandong Taishan, and Saudi Arabian sides Al Ettifaq and Al Ahli.

Shaikh Salman underlines belief in Asia’s young heroines in Colombia

Thu, 22 Aug, 2024

Shaikh Salman underlines belief in Asia’s young heroines in Colombia

Kuala Lumpur: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has outlined his confidence in Asian teams to extend the Continent’s sensational showing at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup as the focus of global football shifts to Colombia for the largest-ever edition in history from August 31 to September 22, 2024.

Australia, DPR Korea, Japan and Korea Republic will be aiming to claim a fourth coveted crown for Asia in the newly expanded 24-team format with the Continent’s sides navigating their way into the Final on six occasions in 10 editions since the inaugural Canada 2002 tournament.