AFC News
NEOM will continue to serve as an Official Global Partner of the AFC’s national team and club competitions, while the agreement will also see NEOM become the Presenting Partner of both the newly unveiled AFC Champions League Elite™ Final Stage for the 2024/25 season – which features the Continent’s top eight sides competing in a centralised Knockout Stage format in Saudi Arabia from the Quarter-finals onwards – as well as the upcoming breakthrough AFC Women’s Champions League™ season.
Reinforcing NEOM’s presence in a new era for Asian football, the agreement further strengthens the partnership foundations laid over the last four years as Saudi Arabia prepares to host prestigious football competitions such as the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ and the AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2026.
Datuk Seri Windsor John, the AFC General Secretary, said: “Asian football is undoubtedly experiencing the dawn of an exciting new era, and we are delighted to extend our global partnership with NEOM.
“We thank NEOM for underlining their belief and confidence in the AFC’s world-class competitions, particularly as we look to herald a brand new chapter of growth and progress for the Asian game in the coming years.
“This partnership renewal further reinforces the appeal of the AFC’s competitions to engage with the hundreds of millions of passionate fans of Asian football and we look forward to creating more historic moments with NEOM to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.”
Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO, NEOM, said: “NEOM’s partnership with the Asian Football Confederation provides us with a valuable platform to collaborate with a global football leader, creating opportunities and positively contributing to the development of sport across Asia. Sport is a key component of Saudi Vision 2030’s ambition to develop a healthy society with strong social bonds and the extension of our partnership with the AFC supports NEOM’s aspirations to become an innovative hub for sport and its goal to have one of the most physically active societies globally. We look forward to building on the success of our relationship with the AFC and continuing our joint efforts to drive the future of football.”
The AFC and NEOM will continue to work together to support the development of a new era in Asian football, where competitiveness, innovation and equality take precedence to pave the way for progress in all areas and levels of football across the Continent.
Patrick Murphy, CEO of AFG said: “We are delighted that NEOM have decided to renew their confidence in Asian football and continue their successful partnership with the AFC. This confidence demonstrates the rapid growth and appeal of Asian football, which continues to attract and retain the trust of esteemed partners globally.”
