East Wrap: Gangwon go top; Sanfrecce close in on summit

Mon, 12 Aug, 2024

East Wrap: Gangwon go top; Sanfrecce close in on summit

Tokyo: Gangwon edged Gimcheon Sangmu 2-1 in a top of the table clash in the K League 1, with the victory seeing them leapfrog their beaten rivals into top spot.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima, meanwhile, closed in on J1 League leaders Machida Zelvia after posting a 2-0 win over Cerezo Osaka.

There was also action in China PR and Chinese Taipei so join the-AFC.com as we recap the past week's domestic action across East Asia.

#ACLTwo contenders to discover Group Stage fate

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

#ACLTwo contenders to discover Group Stage fate

Kuala Lumpur: The path to glory for 32 of the Continent’s top clubs in the AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) 2024/25 campaign will be revealed at the official Group Stage draw ceremony on Friday, August 16 at 3pm at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur.

Featuring the greatest number of teams in any of the Asian Football Confederation’s club competitions, the new second-tier men’s tournament will comprise eight groups – four West, four East – of four teams each for the Group Stage, which will be played in a home-and-away round-robin format from September 17 to December 5.

Thrilling #ACLElite League Stage showdowns to be revealed

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

Thrilling #ACLElite League Stage showdowns to be revealed

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian club game will mark another pivotal milestone when the cast for the groundbreaking AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) 2024/25 season assembles for the official League Stage draw ceremony on Friday, August 16 at 5pm.

To be held at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, the event will reveal highly anticipated battles between Asia’s best 24 clubs for the maiden edition of the revamped men’s Continental club competition.

Central & South Asia Wrap: Nasaf edge Pakhtakor to stay ahead

Mon, 12 Aug, 2024

Central & South Asia Wrap: Nasaf edge Pakhtakor to stay ahead

Tashkent: FC Nasaf maintained top spot in the Uzbekistan Premier League while FC Istiklol stayed perfect in Tajikistan.

In the Kyrgyz Premier League, league leaders Abdysh-Ata Kant suffered mixed fortunes, while the title clash in the Bhutan Premier League heated up with Paro FC regaining the top spot.

The-AFC.com brings you up to date on all the domestic action from Central and South Asia.

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Technical Report available now!

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Technical Report available now!

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Technical Report is now available on the-AFC.com, offering a comprehensive analysis of the grandest-ever edition of the Continental showpiece that was held in Qatar from 12 January to 10 February 2024.

The publication provides a detailed account of the 18th edition of Asia’s crown jewel that witnessed a stunning 132 goals scored over 51 matches as Qatar successfully defended their title with a 3-1 win over Jordan at the iconic Lusail Stadium where a record 86,492 capacity crowd created a deafening atmosphere worthy of any Final. 

ASEAN Wrap: Heidelberg shine as Australia Cup sees shocks; Thai League 1 begins

Mon, 12 Aug, 2024

ASEAN Wrap: Heidelberg shine as Australia Cup sees shocks; Thai League 1 begins

Melbourne: Favourites took a tumble in the 2024 Australia Cup as the competition headed into the Round of 16 with only a few heavyweights remaining in the hunt.

New seasons began in Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia with Johor Darul Ta’zim tightening their grip on the title in Malaysia.

League action also took place in Myanmar and Singapore, so join the-AFC.com as we recap the past week’s domestic excitement across ASEAN.

Buoyant Ivankovic confident of China PR's chances

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

Buoyant Ivankovic confident of China PR's chances

Kuala Lumpur: Qualification for the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 has given football a major boost in China PR says national team boss Branko Ivankovic as he prepares his squad for the next step in the journey towards the 2026 Finals.

By the narrowest of margins, China PR squeezed into the third phase of Asia’s qualifying rounds for the FIFA World Cup; after four high-stakes games in March and June, Branko Ivankovic’s side pipped Thailand on head-to-head record to a berth in the next round.

Swanson strike hands United States women's title against Brazil

Sun, 11 Aug, 2024

Swanson strike hands United States women's title against Brazil

Paris: Mallory Swanson scored the winning goal as the United States edged Brazil 1-0 in Saturday's Olympic women's football final to claim the gold medal for a record-extending fifth time.

Brazil fought hard on a hot afternoon at the Parc des Princes, but the USA struck just before the hour mark when Swanson - on her 100th cap - ran through to finish past goalkeeper Lorena.

It is the first time the USA have taken the Olympic title in 12 years, their gold in Paris adding to those won in 1996, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Stars of the AFC Cup

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

Stars of the AFC Cup

Kuala Lumpur: The curtains have come down on a glorious era in Asian club football with the prestigious AFC Cup™ drawing to a conclusion at the end of last season with Asian club football set to embark on an exciting new journey.

Over the AFC Cup's two-decade-long history since launching in 2004, numerous players across the continent have shone brightly, providing unforgettable moments to savour for Asian football fans.

The-AFC.com selects 10 superstars who lit up the AFC Cup, making it one of the most enjoyable competitions in the Asian football calendar.