No change in latest FIFA World Ranking

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

No change in latest FIFA World Ranking

Kuala Lumpur: Japan continue to lead as the Continent's best team in the latest FIFA World Ranking, which remains unchanged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Japan, ranked 28th, is followed by Islamic Republic of Iran in 33rd place, with Korea Republic in 40th.

Australia is ranked 42nd, with 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts, Qatar, in 55th to complete Asia's top five teams.

Click here to view the latest fixtures, results and standings from across the Continent.

Asia’s Greatest Players in Spanish Football

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Asia’s Greatest Players in Spanish Football

Kuala Lumpur: It’s home to some of the game’s biggest clubs and many of the greatest players, not to mention one of world football’s most compelling rivalries.

La Liga, the top division of Spanish football, holds a place in the consciousness of fans throughout the globe, and it is also a nation which has played host to some standout players from the world’s largest continent.

In increasing numbers, Asian players are flocking to Spain, with some of the continent’s brightest prospects now making it their first port of call in European football.

With La Liga resuming this week, we invite you to decide which Asian player has made the biggest impact in Spanish football.

Here are our nominees:

Flashback: Australia end long wait, register first win

Wed, 02 Nov, 2022

Flashback: Australia end long wait, register first win

Kuala Lumpur: With the countdown for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 gaining pace, the-AFC.com has dug into its archives in search of classic matches and momentous occasions involving Asian teams.

Up next is an interview with John Aloisi, who played a prominent role in Australia ending a 32-year wait to return to the world stage in 2006. 

This article was first published on 12 June 2020.

New goals on the agenda for Pakhtakor’s Ćeran 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

New goals on the agenda for Pakhtakor’s Ćeran 

Tashkent: The one-time presence of a Brazilian FIFA World Cup-winner was all Dragan Ćeran knew of Uzbekistan before he arrived in 2016, but four years and more than 80 goals later, he has proven to be something of a world-beater himself.

The Serbian forward is the Uzbekistan Super League’s reigning Player of the Year, the scorer of 37 goals last season and key figure in a Pakhtakor side which has lost one competitive match in the past 12 months.

With the league resuming after a three-month hiatus on Saturday, Ćeran joined the-AFC.com to discuss his outstanding 2019 season, learning from head coach Shota Arveladze and finally returning to football after an unwanted three-month break.

5 of the Best: Solo Goals

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

5 of the Best: Solo Goals

Kuala Lumpur: It's that time of the week when the-AFC.com brings you some of the finest goals from over the years, with the latest of our '5 of the Best' series focusing on solo goals from the AFC Cup.

We kicked off the series with a look back at some fabulous free-kicks, before shining the spotlight on memorable long-range efforts. This week, we turn our attention to individual brilliance and review five incredible goals where players have taken matters into their own hands and emphatically produced the goods.

So, enjoy the trip down memory lane and don't forget to vote for your favourite at the bottom of the article!

My Favourite Match – Todd Rivaldo Ferre (Indonesia)

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

My Favourite Match – Todd Rivaldo Ferre (Indonesia)

Jayapura: When the squads were submitted for the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship in Indonesia, there was one member of the home side whose name jumped off the page.

It wasn’t Egy Maulana Vikri, the Lechia Gdansk forward who had already accumulated multiple senior international caps and more than a million followers online.

It wasn’t Rafli Mursalim, the promising striker who had bagged nine goals in standout displays at the past two AFF Youth tournaments.

Stardom was Park Ji-sung's destiny, says former coach Engels

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Stardom was Park Ji-sung's destiny, says former coach Engels

Kuala Lumpur: Park Ji-sung’s place in the pantheon of Asian football is unquestioned but, while the midfielder made his name at the FIFA World Cup and winning titles in Europe, it was with Kyoto Purple Sanga that he took his first steps as a professional.

German coach Gert Engels handed Park his debut with the J.League club and tells the-AFC.com about the formative years of one of Asia’s greatest ever players.

When Gert Engels talks about Park Ji-sung, the same characteristic is mentioned time and again: stability. From the moment he first set eyes on footage of Park playing for Myongji University, it was the youngster’s unerring approach that stood out for the former Yokohama Flugels and Kyoto Purple Sanga coach.