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Breakthrough programmes for match officials lauded by AFC Referees Committee

Wed, 16 Jul, 2025

Breakthrough programmes for match officials lauded by AFC Referees Committee

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referees Committee’s commitment to produce world-class match officials capable of gracing the world’s biggest stages was further reinforced today at its third meeting held virtually.

Chairperson Hany Taleb B S Al-Raeesi led the Committee in commending the numerous innovative programmes introduced and implemented throughout the years – all with the aim to educate, train and enhance the capabilities and skillsets of the Continent’s match officials, so many of whom have been entrusted in record numbers to oversee some of the most high-profile matches in world football.

8th AFC Medical Conference set to kick off in Kuala Lumpur

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

8th AFC Medical Conference set to kick off in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur: More than 700 medical professionals will convene in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as the AFC Medical Conference returns to the home of Asian football on Wednesday.

Supported by FIFA and the AFC Medical Centre of Excellence, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, the eighth iteration of the landmark conference will take place from July 21 to 25.

Road to 26 Playoffs draw to set stage for remaining contenders

Mon, 23 Jun, 2025

Road to 26 Playoffs draw to set stage for remaining contenders

Kuala Lumpur: The six teams still in the running for FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification will discover their remaining battle paths at the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Playoffs draw at 3pm on July 17, 2025 (Thursday), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Six of the eight direct berths on offer to Asia have already been claimed following the conclusion of the third qualifying round last month, which featured three groups of six teams. The third and fourth-placed sides from each of those groups — Indonesia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — will get another shot via the Playoffs, which is scheduled for October 8 to 14.

Aspetar the Premier Partner for 8th AFC Medical Conference Kuala Lumpur 2025

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025

Aspetar the Premier Partner for 8th AFC Medical Conference Kuala Lumpur 2025

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Aspetar Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Hospital as the Premier Partner of the 8th AFC Medical Conference, which will be held from July 21 to 25, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

First launched in 1995 in Tokyo, the AFC Medical Conference serves as a vital platform for knowledge exchange among medical professionals, researchers, and football stakeholders.

Countdown begins for launch of #WAC2026 ticket sales

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025

Countdown begins for launch of #WAC2026 ticket sales

Kuala Lumpur: Football fans can look forward to purchasing tickets for the highly anticipated AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ from July 18, 2025, with the launch of Multi-Match Packs. Visa cardholders will enjoy exclusive pre-sale access from July 18, while sales for the general public will commence July 25.

Taking place from March 1 to 21, 2026, the Continent’s premier women’s national team competition will return to Australia for the first time since 2006 and will be hosted across the vibrant cities of Gold Coast, Perth and Sydney, each featuring spectacular venues, including those used during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

AFC and United Nations drive FFTG momentum with new members

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

AFC and United Nations drive FFTG momentum with new members

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the United Nations’ Football for the Goals (FFTG) initiative today reaffirmed their shared commitment to leveraging on the power of football to drive social development across Asia with an increasing number of football stakeholders who are formally aligned with the FFTG’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) platform.

The Football Association of Indonesia, Chinese Football Association and the Philippine Football Federation have become the latest applicants, bringing the total number of AFC Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) currently under review to 20. Meanwhile, The Football Association of Thailand, Football Association of Brunei Darussalam, Tajikistan Football Federation and Football Association of Maldives have joined the eight existing members (see end of page).

AFC and Visa expand partnership with new AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Official Global Supporter deal

Wed, 02 Jul, 2025

AFC and Visa expand partnership with new AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Official Global Supporter deal

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced today a landmark global partnership with Visa, which has been named the Official Global Supporter of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™.

This marks the first partnership between Visa and the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™, representing a strategic milestone aimed at further elevating the profile of women’s football both regionally and worldwide.

Record cast set for #AWCL Preliminary Stage draw

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Record cast set for #AWCL Preliminary Stage draw

Kuala Lumpur: The road to glory in the AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2025/26 will be charted on July 3, 2025 (Thursday) when the draw for the Preliminary Stage takes place at 3pm at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Ahead of its second season, the groundbreaking tournament’s mission to elevate the level of women’s football on the Continent has been reaffirmed with the largest number of participating teams to date.

#ACFutsal draw to unveil Indonesia 2026 Qualifiers journey

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

#ACFutsal draw to unveil Indonesia 2026 Qualifiers journey

Kuala Lumpur: The road to the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Indonesia 2026 will be revealed on June 26, 2025 (Thursday) when the official Qualifiers draw ceremony takes place at 3pm at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A total of 31 teams have confirmed their participation in the 11th Qualifiers, which will take place between September 20 to 24. The draw will divide them into eight groups—seven groups of four and one group of three—with each to be played in a centralised league format.

Stage set for #WAC2026 Qualifiers kick-off

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Stage set for #WAC2026 Qualifiers kick-off

Asia’s hopefuls will take their first steps towards glory when the Qualifiers for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ commence on Monday.

The matches will see the contenders vie for one of the eight available slots to join hosts Australia and the top three sides from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup India 2022™ – defending champions China PR, runners-up Korea Republic and third-placed Japan – in the Continental showpiece in March 2026.

5th AFC Coach Education Conference inspires brighter future

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

5th AFC Coach Education Conference inspires brighter future

Kuala Lumpur: The 5th AFC Coach Education Conference successfully concluded on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, further underlining the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s resolve to ensure the success of Asian teams on the global stage.

The three-day conference was marked by a series of insightful lectures covering a range of topics integral to the advancement of coach education programmes across the Confederation’s Member Associations (MAs).

5th AFC Coach Education Conference aims to strengthen Continent’s tacticians

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

5th AFC Coach Education Conference aims to strengthen Continent’s tacticians

Kuala Lumpur: The 5th AFC Coach Education Conference commenced on Tuesday, bringing together more than 100 tutors from across the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s Member Associations (MAs) in the Malaysian capital city to chart the way forward for the Continent’s coaches.

Under the theme of “Shaping the Future of Coach Education”, the three-day conference in Kuala Lumpur will see experts from across the globe offer their insights into guiding MAs to meet the requisites of the landmark AFC Coaching Convention.