Attended by more than 100 representatives, the event was an excellent reflection of the collective commitment of the Confederation’s Member Associations (MAs) to establishing safe and secure environments for children to experience the joy of the beautiful game and to learn and develop at their own pace.

One of the main topics that took centre stage was the various factors that can influence a player’s development, allowing participants to engage in a dialogue highlighting the crucial elements that contribute to a welcoming grassroots football environment, such as caring coaches, a friendly atmosphere and encouragement to follow their curiosity.

The programme also included an intriguing discussion exploring a young player’s progression from the Fun Phase through the Foundation, Adaptation, Formation and Transition phases, culminating in the final stage of development, with the demands gradually evolving from enjoyment and basic skills to greater technical, tactical, physical and mental challenges.

The focus then shifted to an in-depth study of the impact of a child’s first encounter with football, which, led by AFC Deputy Technical Director Takeshi Ono, highlighted the importance of coach education in nurturing a love for the game under caring supervision.

Besides discussing the role of grassroots coaching programmes, the session also drew attention to various challenges faced at this stage of the game, ranging from managing dropout rates to preventing stagnation in player development.

Additionally, against the backdrop of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the programme also briefly contextualised the importance of grassroots football in shaping the journey ahead for future stars.

An engaging Q&A session brought the AFC Grassroots Online Session to a close, with participants also being brought up to speed on the latest status of the acclaimed AFC Grassroots Charter, which currently endorses 44 MAs, comprising 19 Bronze members, while the Silver and Gold categories feature 13 and 12 MAs, respectively.