Saleh leads new UAE generation looking to overcome vital Australia Playoff

Sat, 04 Jun, 2022

Saleh leads new UAE generation looking to overcome vital Australia Playoff

Doha: Mercurial winger Ali Saleh leads a generational shift at the United Arab Emirates national team as they prepare to take on Australia in the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to Qatar Playoff on Tuesday.

It is difficult to believe Saleh is still eligible to represent the UAE at the ongoing AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2022 given how long he has been kicking around. The winger made his first team debut at his hometown club Al Wasl at 15, and by the age of 19 he had become a full international, underlining the potential seen in him by various coaches from an early age.

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Australia’s Boyle relishing big stage ahead of crucial UAE Playoff

Sat, 04 Jun, 2022

Australia’s Boyle relishing big stage ahead of crucial UAE Playoff

Doha: Australia winger Martin Boyle hopes his recent big-game experience will come to the fore when the Socceroos face United Arab Emirates in Tuesday’s winner-take-all AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to Qatar Playoff.

Having qualified for the previous four FIFA World Cups, a third-place finish in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar Group B means Graham Arnold’s side must repeat the treacherous playoff journey navigated by Ange Postecoglou’s squad on the Road to Russia, with victories against the UAE then fifth-placed South American side Peru required if the Australian streak is to continue.

UAE v Australia: 6 players to watch out for during the Asian Playoff

Fri, 03 Jun, 2022

UAE v Australia: 6 players to watch out for during the Asian Playoff

Doha: With the clock ticking down to the kick-off of the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to Qatar Playoff between the United Arab Emirates and Australia, the excitement and anticipation from both sets of fans are starting to reach fever pitch.

Here are six players to watch out for as Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s side clash against Graham Arnold’s team in Al Rayyan on June 7.

Asian Playoffs: 4 Classic Encounters

Thu, 02 Jun, 2022

Asian Playoffs: 4 Classic Encounters

Kuala Lumpur: With Australia and the United Arab Emirates set to face off in the AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to Qatar Playoff on June 7, we recall some of the most memorable encounters when the continent’s sides have gone head-to-head with FIFA World Cup™ qualification on the line.

From Japan reaching the global showpiece for the first time to an incredible ending in Riyadh, penalty shootout drama in Tashkent and Syria coming so close to a fairy tale ending, the-AFC.com looks back at four unforgettable Asian Playoffs.

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group A

Thu, 02 Jun, 2022

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group A

Kuwait City: Three sides that competed in Group B of the previous round, find themselves pitted together again in Group A of the third and final round of the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers which get underway on June 8 in the Kuwaiti capital.

Group hosts Kuwait had played alongside Jordan and Nepal in the earlier round, while the trio will be joined by Indonesia for the three matchdays with the winners as well best five runners-up from the six groups, advancing to the Finals.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the four sides ahead of the action kicking off.  

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group B

Thu, 02 Jun, 2022

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group B

Ulaanbaatar: Three of the four teams drawn to face one another in Group B of the final round of 2023 Qualifiers appeared at the most recent edition of the AFC Asian Cup™, so something will have to give when they face off against one another in Ulaanbaatar.

Palestine, the Philippines and Yemen played in the United Arab Emirates in 2019 and all three have made strides forward since, ensuring the battle for the one automatic spot at next year’s tournament will be keenly contested. Hosts Mongolia will be buoyed by home field advantage and should not be written off.

Join the-AFC.com as we review the four teams. 

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group C

Fri, 03 Jun, 2022

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group C

Namangan: Two tournament regulars and two teams that aspire to emulate their success will do battle when Uzbekistan hosts an enticing AFC Asian Cup™ 2023 Final Round Qualifiers Group C from June 8. 

Both the Central Asian group hosts and Thailand come with an impressive pedigree in the continent’s most prestigious football event, while South Asian duo Maldives and Sri Lanka are chasing a ground-breaking first appearance in Asia’s showpiece.

Join the-AFC.com as we run the rule of Group C’s qualification chasing quartet.

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group D

Fri, 03 Jun, 2022

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group D

Kolkata: India are the only nation in Group D to have made a recent appearance at the AFC Asian Cup™ Finals, with the country qualifying for UAE 2019, and that recent pedigree could be enough to mark them out as favourites to progress once again.

India and Afghanistan have experience facing one another, having being drawn in the same group in the second round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers while Hong Kong and Cambodia faced off in the last round, meaning there will be a mix of the familiar and the new for all the teams in Group D.

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group E

Fri, 03 Jun, 2022

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group E

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia, Bahrain, Turkmenistan and Bangladesh will battle it out in Group E of the final round of the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers which takes place at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

Each of the nations will face each other once between June 8-14, with Bahrain looking to make it six consecutive appearances while Bangladesh and Malaysia are aiming to return after 42 and 16 years respectively while Turkmenistan want to make it two consecutive tournaments for the first time in their history, having competed in UAE 2019.

Join the-AFC.com as take a look at the Group E cast.

AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group F

Wed, 01 Jun, 2022

AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers - Know Your Teams: Group F

Bishkek: There will be scores to settle and historic achievements on offer when Kyrgyz Republic welcomes Tajikistan, Myanmar and Singapore to Dolen Omurzakov Stadium for the AFC Asian Cup™ 2023 Final Round Qualifiers Group F.

The hosts will be familiar with both Tajikistan and Myanmar, having faced them twice each in the AFC Asian Qualifiers, while Singapore will arrive optimistic of ending a near four-decade qualification drought. 

Join us as we break down the key details of each side ahead of six crucial fixtures in Bishkek.