Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ahmedabad: India may be the defending champions but there are no clear favourites in the four-nation Intercontinental Cup that kicks off in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
India will kick off the tournament against Tajikistan and the hosts will be aiming for a winning start as new head Igor Stimac continues to mould the squad ahead of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.
DPR Korea and Syria complete the cast with all four teams using the Intercontinental Cup to finalise preparations for the Asian Qualifiers, with the groups set to be unveiled on July 17.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/india1-training.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Republic of Iran head coach Marc Wilmots is more than hopeful of Team Melli’s future after what he has seen in the past month.
The 50-year-old Belgian coach took over the reins from Carlos Queiroz early in June, and enjoyed a good start to his tenure as Iran beat Syria 5-0 in an international friendly, before playing to a 1-1 draw against Korea Republic less than a week later.
Tasked with ensuring Team Melli make their sixth appearance in the FIFA World Cup, Wilmots is confident his side can rise up to the challenge en route to Qatar 2022, praising numerous his players with Persepolis’ goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and youngsters Younes Delfi and Allahyar Sayyadmanesh coming in for special mention.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tokyo: Around the lower tier of Tokyo Stadium, one banner among the many draped over the railings captures the sentiments in the suburbs of Japan’s capital on Saturday: “From Tokyo to the world” it said in Spanish as FC Tokyo’s fans bid a fond farewell to Real Madrid-bound Takefusa Kubo.
Kubo, the highly-rated superstar-in-waiting, had already played his last game for the Gasmen – a 3-1 win over Oita Trinita on June 1 – before inking a five-year deal with the Spanish giants and making his senior debut for the Japan national team at the Copa America in Brazil. It had been an eventful month for a player who only turned 18 on June 4.
That date, though, was significant as it meant Kubo was free to sign a deal that would take him back to Europe after a four-year absence, having returned to Japan in March 2015 following his release from FC Barcelona.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Qualifiers draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Preliminary Competition and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 will be held on July 17, 2019 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – providing Asia’s top 40 nations with their pathway to glory.
The seedings for the draw will be based on the latest FIFA Rankings issued on June 14, 2019 and following the conclusion of the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 where Bangladesh, Cambodia, Guam, Malaysia and Mongolia - advanced to Round 2.
The decision on the outcome of the match between Macau and Sri Lanka is still pending.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Helio Sousa is set to start work as the Bahrain national team head coach after touching down in Manama.
Sousa, who replaced Miroslav Soukup, will get to know his players during a local training camp.
He will then take the squad for a training camp in his native Portugal as Bahrain prepare for the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 Fifa World Cup Qatar and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup China.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dededo: Hat-trick hero Jason Cunliffe says its back to the drawing board for Guam after they sealed their place in the next round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Joint Qualification in emphatic fashion on Tuesday.
Guam defeated Bhutan 5-0 to advance 5-1 on aggregate with skipper Cunliffe scoring in the 26th, 81st and added time. Guam's other scorers were Isiah Kazunori Kimura Lagutang (23rd) and Shane Malcolm (51st) as Guam comfortably overcame the one-goal deficit at the Guam FA Field.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bandar Seri Begawan: Mongolia must be prepared to work even harder if they want to continue making history after advancing to the next stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Joint Qualification on Tuesday.
The East Asians saw off a strong challenge from Brunei, who had drawn level 2-2 on aggregate by the end of the first half at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.
Mongolian captain Norjmoo Tsedenbal, however, had the final say as he struck a penalty two minutes into the second half to ensure his team advanced to the second round for the first time in their history.