AWARD NOMINEES

A seven-save performance against Belgium in a 0-0 draw at the FIFA World Cup 2026, including a stunning point-blank stop, underlined Beiranvand’s world-class abilities. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s most-capped goalkeeper with 90 appearances, the 34-year-old played all three matches as they missed out on the Round of 32 on goal difference. At club level, the giant custodian helped Tractor FC reach the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Round of 16 and qualify directly again for the League Stage in 2026/27. This is Beiranvand’s second nomination after his first in 2019.

Al Brikan earns his maiden nomination after a campaign that saw him strike one of the most important goals of his career – the winner in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Final that saw Al Ahli Saudi FC retain the crown and become only the second team to claim consecutive titles. The 26-year-old forward featured in every league match and helped the club to finish third, while he scored twice in the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Playoffs to help Saudi Arabia qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026, where he started all three games.

Reigning AFC Player of the Year Al Dawsari has the opportunity to clinch an unprecedented third award after 2022 and 2025. The Saudi Arabian legend remains an influential force for club and country, both of which he captains. Al Dawsari increased his tally of FIFA World Cup matches to nine at the 2026 edition, taking him joint-second on the all-time appearance list for Saudi players. The 35-year-old also helped Al Hilal SFC to an unbeaten 2025/26 league campaign and a record 10th King’s Cup success, as well as reach the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Knockout Stage.

Another sensational season in 2025/26 saw McNamara continue where she left off and bring back-to-back nominations. The forward, 23, claimed consecutive A-League Women Golden Boots, powering Melbourne City FC to a third straight Premiership and scoring twice in the Grand Final to clinch a first Championship in six years. She starred in the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26™ as City reached the Semi-finals and emerged as Top Scorer with four goals. Part of the Matildas side that finished as AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ runners-up, McNamara is now at Everton FC.

Naegohyang Women’s FC became the first DPR Korea club to taste success in an AFC competition when they lifted the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26™ trophy, with Kim as the Most Valuable Player. The striker played all six matches and scored in each of the last four, including the only goal in the Final as her side achieved historic glory on their Continental debut. The 24-year-old also bagged four goals at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ amid DPR Korea’s run to the last eight and their qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.

Kim remains at the top of her game in a career spanning 15 years now and has been nominated for a second occasion after 2023. After leading Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC through the Group Stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26™, the 36-year-old moved to Suwon FC Women and netted in their Quarter-final win as they exited in the last four. Kim has helped Suwon reach the 2026 league championship final, while the versatile defender also starred for the Taegeuk Ladies in their journey to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Semi-finals.

A prolific 2025/26 season earns Ueda his maiden nomination after bagging 25 goals in 31 games for Feyenoord Rotterdam to finish as the Dutch league’s top scorer. A complete striker who can hold his own in the air despite a smaller stature, the 28-year-old has established himself at international level for Japan and boasts 22 goals in 47 appearances. That includes two at his first-ever FIFA World Cup in 2026, where they reached the Round of 32, after which Ueda moved to French side LOSC Lille for 2026/27.

Also a first-time nominee, Hwang earned plaudits for his FIFA World Cup 2026 displays at the heart of Korea Republic’s midfield despite their early exit. He inspired them to an opening victory, breaking the deadlock before setting up the winner against Czechia, and completed their remaining two matches. At club level, the 30-year-old helped Feyenoord Rotterdam place second in the Dutch league and subsequently transferred to FC Porto for the current season.

Another trophy-laden 2025/26 campaign saw Lee become the first Asian player to win more than one UEFA Champions League title as Paris Saint-Germain retained their crown, while adding the French league title, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Intercontinental Cup to his trophy collection. A dazzling attacker with mercurial skill, the 25-year-old is regarded as one of Korea Republic’s leading lights with 11 goals in 53 caps and played every minute in their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey. The current holder of this award, Lee, can become only the second multiple winner after compatriot Son Heung-min.

While the Matildas’ quest for glory at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ ended in heartbreak at the last hurdle, Kennedy shone the brightest amongst all on home soil. Usually a centre-back, she enjoyed a star turn in central midfield and scored five times to lead the hosts to the Final, deservedly taking the Most Valuable Player honour. The third-most capped Matilda with 152, the 31-year-old joined London City Lionesses ahead of the 2025/26 campaign and helped them finish sixth in their maiden top flight season.

At the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ campaign, Foord completed five of the Matildas’ six games, most notably scoring once and setting up the winner–her third assist–in the last four to reach their first Final since 2018. Joint-fourth on the most-capped list with 151, as well as being their joint-third top scorer, the 31-year-old attacker hit the winner for Arsenal Women FC in the Final of the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup. Foord also featured in every game across all competitions as they finished second in the league and reached the UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi-finals.

Shortlisted for every edition since this award’s launch three years ago, Hasegawa will hope that third time is the charm. Firmly entrenched as one of the world’s best midfielders, 2025/26 brought unprecedented success for the Japanese maestro. She captained Japan to AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ glory, setting up the winning goal in the Final while scoring once and making two more assists. The 29-year-old also won her first trophies with Manchester City Women FC, playing every single minute in the league and FA Cup to land a double.

A colossus of the futsal world, Islamic Republic of Iran captain Hossein Tayebi scored six times in as many matches–including the Final–as the Central Asians took home a record-extending 14th crown at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026™. Also skipper at club level for Gohar Zamin, the 38-year-old legend claimed the 2025/26 league’s Golden Boot with 28 goals in 22 matches and was named IR Iran’s Futsal Player of the Year. This is Tayebi’s second nomination, coming 13 years after his first in 2013.

The winner of this prize in 2023, Abbasi is shortlisted for the third time after his exploits at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026™ for the Islamic Republic of Iran. The 34-year-old scored the crucial equaliser that sent the Final to a penalty shootout, where the Central Asians prevailed to clinch a record-extending 14th title, and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player–his second in a row–for his brilliant performances throughout. Abbasi then led Giti Pasand to a record seventh league triumph, clinching the trophy with a final-day victory.

With six goals at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026™, Osamanmusa became the third Thai player to win the Top Scorer award and was a bright spark for the Southeast Asians despite their last-eight exit. A regular for Spanish outfit Jimbee Cartagena since joining in 2024, the 28-year-old scored 20 times in 47 appearances during the 2025/26 season to help them win the Spanish Supercup and finish third in the UEFA Futsal Champions League.

Unstoppable at the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™, Kitahara claimed both the Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer awards by scoring six times in five games–including what proved to be the decider in the Final–as Japan won a record-extending fifth title. The youngest-ever debutant in J1 League history after his bow in early 2025, the 17-year-old has since moved on loan to the second tier with Fujieda MYFC for regular first-team opportunities.

An imposing figure at the heart of defence, Ichihara captained Japan at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 and scored twice from the spot as they went through the group stage without conceding, before exiting in the Round of 16. The 21-year-old marshalled their rearguard impeccably again at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™, leading them to glory with just one goal conceded. Similarly impressive at domestic level with RB Omiya Ardija in the J2 League, Ichihara’s potential was swiftly recognised by AZ Alkmaar, whom he joined at the start of 2026.

One of Japan’s top prospects, Sato has experienced an extraordinary rise to stardom. On loan to Fagiano Okayama during their maiden top-flight season, the winger seized his opportunity to impress and was crowned the 2025 J1 League Young Player of the Year. At parent club FC Tokyo, the 19-year-old immediately became a regular for 2026 as they finished fourth. Sato lit up the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ as the Most Valuable Player, with Japan sweeping to a record third title. Already capped six times at senior level, he signed for Spanish club Valencia CF in July 2026.

Aged 15, Kim was the youngest member of DPR Korea’s squad at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025, but that did not stop her from scoring seven goals–including in the Final–as they won a record fourth title. Winner of the Silver Ball and Silver Boot, Kim then hit six goals at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™–again on target in the Final–and chalked up six assists as her country powered to a record fifth title. An accomplished finisher who also demonstrates spatial intelligence and a tireless work rate, the prodigy is one to watch for the future.

An incredible 2025/26 season saw Yu completely dominate both the global and Continental stage. The forward won both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025, netting eight times as DPR Korea lifted the trophy. At the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™, she plundered a single-edition record of 15 goals and showcased excellent link-up skills with five assists, winning the Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer awards amid another DPR Korea success.

Inspired by the silky smooth Fukushima, Japan emerged as AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026™ champions to clinch a record-extending seventh title. The playmaker’s pinpoint free-kick delivery set up the Final’s only goal as they dethroned DPR Korea, with the 17-year-old ending the tournament as its Most Valuable Player after tallying five goals and three assists. Fukushima’s performances built on her displays at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025, where three goals and an assist saw Japan reach the last eight.

Appointed in June 2025 after high-profile club stints at Arsenal Women FC, Juventus FC and OL Lyonnes, Montemurro set to work in building a Matildas side that eventually fell just short in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ quest by falling to a narrow defeat in their first Final since 2018. The 57-year-old has implemented a more possession-based approach and emphasised tactical flexibility, while also establishing more depth as he eyes a deep run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027.

FC Machida Zelvia’s astonishing Continental debut captured the imagination of Asia and was in no small part due to the tactical acumen of Kuroda, who was entering only his third professional coaching season ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. The 56-year-old took to the AFC Champions League Elite™ stage like a natural, guiding the Japanese side–whom he had led to their first-ever Emperor’s Cup trophy in November–all the way to the Final in a fairytale run that ended with a runners-up finish.

Helming the Japan side at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Morocco 2025, Shirai led them to the Quarter-finals before taking charge again at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™. The 45-year-old masterminded a run to the Final–for the second time in as many editions–without conceding once, although he was unable to steer them to glory as they settled for a runners-up finish.

The AFC Women’s Player of the Year in 2006, Ma made the coaching transition from club to national team in 2026 by leaving her assistant role at Beijing Jingtan Football Club—after helping them win a first title in 23 years—for the China PR U17 women’s side. With four months of preparation, the 38-year-old led them to the Semi-finals of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ to secure a berth at a second consecutive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. In May 2026, Ma also joined the senior set-up as assistant coach to Ante Milicic.

Having created history as the first-ever winner from the Islamic Republic of Iran last year, Jafari has the opportunity to make it two in a row. The 44-year-old oversaw IR Iran’s campaign at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, where they put up respectable performances. Jafari was in charge of Bam Khatoon FC at the AFC Women’s Champions League 2025/26™, while also leading the club to a fifth straight league title and 12th overall – both records.

The youngest-ever head coach at any national team level in Korea Republic when she helmed the U20 women’s side in November 2023, Park received this prize two editions ago and has been nominated again for her work with the team. The 37-year-old guided them to the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Thailand 2026™ last four, ensuring a place at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026, where the East Asians made the Quarter-finals – their best finish since 2014.