Membership will be by invitation, with academies to be selected in consultation with well-developed Member Associations (MAs) and a maximum of two academies from each MA to be admitted. Network members will engage in structured exchanges, participate in technical sessions, and contribute to best‑practice sharing at events and programmes facilitated by the AFC.

 

AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh, who chaired the virtual meeting, said: “It takes talent to develop talent. It is one of the reasons why the AFC Coaching Convention includes two youth diplomas with specialist training for youth coaches at A Level and B Level; it is really a specialist art, whether you are working at an academy or national youth team, and it is a fantastic place to work in. Again, it is a key principle for us to try and get the best youth coaching talent we can, to deal with our talented young players.”

 

Updates were provided to the 16 Panel members in attendance on the status of the AFC Elite Youth Scheme, which currently comprises 28 endorsed MAs – eight at 3-Star, seven at 2-Star and 13 at 1-Star levels. Additionally, a total of 11 MAs/academies are pending evaluation across the three levels.

 

Another key development highlighted during the meeting was the planned update to the AFC Elite Youth Scheme Regulations. Launched at the end of 2017, the AFC Elite Youth Scheme recognises, supports and endorses MAs for their efforts in elite youth football development, and the impending revised framework is set to offer clearer guidance across all aspects. The new edition of the Regulations is targeted to be issued by May 2027.

 

Discussions were had over the challenges faced in various MAs, such as bridging the gap from Under-20 level to professional level, talent identification, competitive balance, player pathways, suitable facilities and logistics, while the prospect of integrating AI into youth development—as well as having guidelines to do so—was also brought up.

 

Participants were then further briefed on the latest developments across Asian youth football, including the winners of the AFC Special Youth Awards 2025 and the intended publication date of the next edition of the AFC Elite Youth Bulletin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

 

Upcoming programmes for the rest of the year include a series of online sessions for technical development, the organisation of Technical Summits with MAs, and the 5th AFC Youth Conference – initiatives that reinforce the AFC’s mission to strengthen the foundations of elite youth football.