AFC Women's Asian Cup
As part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s It’s My Game campaign, the spotlight now turns to the competition’s Match Commissioners, the team whose tireless efforts ensure every matchday is delivered to the highest standards.
Serving as the General Coordinator in Sydney, Jordan’s Abeer Rantisi, whose experience spans multiple AFC and FIFA competitions, reflected on how her duties require constant coordination with teams, referees, stadium staff and tournament organisers, much of which takes place far from the public eye.
“As a General Coordinator, I act as the focal point that connects many different functional areas, including coordinating with referees, teams, media, broadcasting, security, medical teams, and stadium operations,” said Rantisi.
“A typical matchday starts several hours before kick-off as we try to make sure everything runs smoothly. When everything is seamless, it looks effortless, but there is a lot of planning behind the scenes to make sure every detail is in place so that the players and officials can focus entirely on the match.”
Having worked across numerous major tournaments, the Jordanian has also had a front-row seat to witnessing the evolution of the women’s game in Asia in recent years.
“The AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ has grown significantly in both scale and professionalism,” she said. “From the level of organisation and broadcast production to stadium presentation and operational planning, there has been great development, and it is very encouraging to see the recognition the competition is receiving internationally.”
While the operational side of the competition forms the backbone of matchday, Vietnam’s Nguyen Thanh Ha, who serves both as a Match Commissioner and a member of the AFC Women’s Football Committee, highlighted the tournament’s role in driving the development of women’s football across Asia.
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“This competition is one of the most important platforms for growing the women’s game on the continent,” she said. “Over the years, it has helped raise the visibility of the women’s game, encouraged young players to pursue football, and strengthened the overall ecosystem of women’s football across Asia.”
Thanh Ha also shared how her dual role allows her to bring valuable insights from tournament operations into broader discussions on developing the women’s game.
“As a member of the AFC Women’s Football Committee, the experience of being a Match Commissioner enables me to contribute more effectively, as I constantly receive fresh insights that I can discuss with my peers to enhance different areas of the sport, including referee development, coaching education, technical analysis, and commercial development.”
While Rantisi and Thanh Ha bring years of experience at the continental and global stages, the United Arab Emirates’ Noura Jamal represents the new generation of officials, with the 21st edition of the competition marking her first involvement at the highest continental stage.
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“Being part of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ is a great honour,” she said. “It means a lot to contribute to such a prestigious tournament and support the growth of women’s football in Asia.”
As one of the newer Match Commissioners involved in the competition, Jamal described the experience as both rewarding and educational, with the opportunity to learn from industry experts from close quarters.
“It is very encouraging to see more women taking leadership and operational roles in football tournaments,” she said. “It shows the positive progress in the game and motivates more women to be involved in football administration.
“Moreover, I hope my appointment to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ can inspire other aspiring Match Commissioners from West Asia to believe in themselves and pursue opportunities in football management.”
Launched on the AFC Women’s Football Day in 2018, the AFC’s It’s My Game campaign continues to honour inspiring women in football throughout the world’s largest Continent, reaching millions of people via the AFC’s digital channels.
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