AFC Awards
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation was recognised as the AFC Member Association of the Year in the Platinum category. The Football Association of Thailand received the Diamond accolade for the second year in a row, while The Football Association of Hong Kong, China Limited was conferred the Gold award, with the Lao Football Federation retaining its Ruby status.
Meanwhile, the ASEAN Football Federation was awarded the AFC Regional Association of the Year for the first time.
AFC Member Association of the Year – Platinum
Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF)
The SAFF has answered the clarion call to host numerous regional and AFC competitions in recent times, and its operational and hosting excellence was underlined by the exceptional delivery of the first-ever AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025.
There was similar success on the pitch, where a trio of Saudi Arabian clubs reached the AFC Champions League Elite™ Semi-finals before Al Ahli Saudi FC were eventually crowned champions of the Continent’s pinnacle club football stage with Al Nassr Club also winning the inaugural AFC eChampions League Elite.
Underlining its commitment to the AFC’s Vision and Mission, the SAFF also provided an unrivalled stage for the Continent’s rising stars to shine with the exemplary hosting of the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025, where its youth side claimed a commendable runners-up finish.
The SAFF served as a shining example off the pitch as well, ensuring the highest standards of good governance, transparency and accountability by aligning all its Statutes, and key relevant documents with the AFC and FIFA.
AFC Member Association of the Year – Diamond
The Football Association of Thailand (FA Thailand)
Clinching this prestigious award for the second successive year, FA Thailand has consistently brought its industry-leading hosting capabilities and expertise to bear with the nation serving as the backdrop for several of the AFC’s competitions.
FA Thailand successfully delivered the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup™ 2025 in Pattaya for the third consecutive time in March 2025 as well as the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 Qualifiers Group A ties earlier in the year, with the centralised AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers Group B encounters also held in the Southeast Asian nation.
On the pitch, Buriram United were the only ASEAN side to reach the Quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 in April before clinching their inaugural ASEAN Club Championship 2024/25 title the following month.
Furthermore, FA Thailand has continued to display its unwavering dedication towards upholding good governance principles, maintaining Statutes and Codes that are fully compliant with FIFA and the AFC.
AFC Member Association of the Year – Gold
The Football Association of Hong Kong, China Limited (HKFA)
The HKFA picked up its fourth MA award, having been named as Developing MA winners in 2015 and 2019 as well as Gold recipients in 2022.
The Hong Kong, China men’s side secured their place in the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship after a commanding performance in the Preliminary Stage in December 2024 whilst their national women’s futsal side created history by reaching the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ Knockout Stage for the first time.
The HKFA’s drive towards improving the football landscape in the territory was also commended, emphasised by a growing number of courses and seminars organised in the key areas of technical and refereeing development as well as social responsibility.
At the same time, the Association successfully organised several domestic competitions aimed at further elevating the standards of the game, which include the launch of its inaugural HKPL U-22 League in October 2024.
AFC Member Association of the Year – Ruby
Lao Football Federation (LFF)
The LFF's determination to strengthen every facet of football development has earned the Federation its second successive Ruby accolade.
Working tirelessly to grow the beautiful game behind the scenes, the LFF has distinguished itself by the sheer volume of centralised, qualifying, and regional tournaments it has organised in the past year including numerous coaching and refereeing courses.
The Federation also recently had its AFC Grassroots Charter membership upgraded to the Silver level, having first been inducted at the Bronze category in 2019.
Additionally, the LFF’s determination to continuously modernise and update its Statutes and governance practices in line with FIFA and the AFC was also another aspect that further set them apart.
AFC Regional Association of the Year
ASEAN Football Federation (AFF)
Setting the standard in staging top-level competitions, as underlined in the AFC’s Vision and Mission, the AFF successfully organised seven competitions since the last Awards, the highest number across all RAs on the Continent, with the inaugural ASEAN Club Championship the latest addition to the vibrant roster.
The AFF has also firmly cemented its place as the hallmark of good governance and accountability, with its Statutes, Electoral Code, and other regulations fully aligned with the AFC and FIFA.
Furthermore, the AFF has continued to leverage the power of football as a force for social good, underscoring its solidarity and unity towards supporting the Confederation’s larger social responsibility objectives.
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