Grassroots
The 12th edition of the annual celebration was commemorated on May 23, in alignment with FIFA’s World Football Week, enabling the AFC to further contribute to the United Nations’ Football for the Goals initiative and the advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Join us at the-AFC.com for the second part of a series that highlights all the celebrations that took place across Asia!
Jordan
The Jordan Football Association (JFA) celebrated the AFC Grassroots Football Day 2025 with a vibrant festival which focused on girls between the ages of nine and 14.
The event brought together participants from grassroots centres across the country, offering a safe and supportive environment for young girls to explore their passion for football.
Under the guidance of trained coaches, the girls engaged in structured activities that built confidence, developed skills, and fostered friendships.
Kyrgyz Republic
Celebrations in the Kyrgyz Republic were a nationwide affair, with the Kyrgyz Football Union (KFU) engaging over 800 children across not just Bishkek, but the cities of Naryn, Jalal-Abad, Talas, Chuy, Osh, and Issyk-Kul.
Comprising football festivals, races, and skill challenges, the activities were primarily geared towards promoting key tenets of grassroots football such as healthy lifestyles, teamwork, and fair play.
In Naryn, the festivities included a children’s football tournament featuring 16 teams of children in the U10 age group, while other regions exposed participants to engaging activities such as musical warm-ups, technical drills, and friendly matches, creating a joyful and inclusive space for children to experience the power of the beautiful game.
Palestine
In the city of Hebron, the Palestine Football Association (PFA) joined hands with the Ministry of Education to observe the Confederation’s celebrations with day-long activities focused on furthering the United Nations’ SDGs.
More than 100 participants spontaneously joined the celebrations on the day, along with the 200 children who had registered ahead of the event and took part in mini-leagues and safeguarding workshops that focused primarily on gender equality.
The festival also served as a scouting platform for the upcoming Hebron Girls’ Grassroots Centre, slated to be launched in August. Based on their participation in the friendly matches, 40 young girls were selected to join the new centre, where they will undergo structured training in a safe space for development.
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) celebrated the AFC Grassroots Football Day 2025 across four training centres in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah, with 460 children and 48 coaches participating.
With festivities featuring small-sided tournaments curated for age groups, the event was organised with strong support from community members, including parents, club coaches, and volunteers.
Held in conjunction with FIFA Football Week, the focus of the programme was on organising activities that raised awareness on child protection and collaborating to establish an inclusive environment for the Kingdom’s children.
Across the regional centres, clubs and academies curated programmes comprising a range of sports activities under the guidance of SAFF experts, while small-scale activities were arranged in 23 more centres across the West Asian nation, underlining the Federation’s efforts to set a benchmark for safe and inclusive football in the region.
Singapore
On May 17, close to 100 children from the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) Girl Cubs Programme, as well as non-profit organisations such as Catch Them Young Limited and Impart Limited, flocked to the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore to celebrate the AFC Grassroots Football Day 2025.
Hosted by the FAS, the event, under the theme “United Through Football”, highlighted the unifying power of the sport and its ability to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds through a shared passion for football.
Among the many meaningful activities, a football clinic featuring 1v1 games and technical drills was conducted to engage participants below 12, while a Safe Sport Awareness Workshop was organised in collaboration with the Safe Sport Commission Singapore for the parents in attendance.
Additionally, much to the delight of the young participants, the programme was attended by guests such as Singapore national team captain Hariss Harun and former striker Aleksandar Duric.
Syria
In the port city of Latakia, the Syrian Football Association organised a football festival for close to 100 youngsters with the support of 25 volunteers.
Divided into two phases, the first featured eight specialised small game stations focusing on football skills, while the second phase consisted of a mini football league among the players.
The active participation from families, SFA officials, and other members of the community made for a warm and festive atmosphere and an excellent platform for community building, further underlining the AFC’s ambitions of expanding the reach of the game to as many people as possible.
Thailand
In Nan Province, the Football Association of Thailand (FA Thailand) hosted a lively programme that was attended by more than 250 participants.
A day marked by workshops, friendly matches, and mini-tournaments, former national team players Kawin Thamsatchanan, Ekkaluck Thongkit, and Chanatphon Sikkhamondol came forward to show their support and inspire children with personal anecdotes and motivate them to nurture an interest in football.
Despite high temperatures, the participants finished the day in good spirits, having taken part in sessions focused on ball possession, dribbling, and passing, while also playing small-sided games.
Timor-Leste
The capital city of Dili played host to the Federação de Futebol de Timor-Leste (FFTL)’s annual celebrations.
Inaugurated by the FFTL Deputy General Secretary and guided by volunteers and regional coaches, 80 boys and 40 girls from development programmes and youth centres came together for a day of joyous activities fostering creativity and familiarity with the ball.
Moreover, in order to instil a sense of camaraderie and inclusivity, the FFTL welcomed children with physical or mental disadvantages as well as participants from socially vulnerable backgrounds.
United Arab Emirates
More than 30 regional clubs of the United Arab Emirates celebrated the 2025 edition of the AFC Grassroots Football Day.
Organised by the UAE Football Association (UAE FA), as many as 200 children in the Under-9 category took part in activities spread over 25 mini pitches, including 3v3 matches and an introduction to basic football drills, before being handed medals and jerseys as tokens of appreciation.
Several members of the UAE women’s national team staff attended the event, which also coincided with the UAE FA’s first-ever safeguarding course that was organised for national team coaches across age groups, highlighting the Federation’s holistic approach to grassroots development, emphasising both technical growth and child protection.
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