Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: In preparation for the biggest-ever AFC Asian Cup in history, the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Media Channel, an integrated, one-stop hub, for all media services, is enhancing its features to ensure a world-class experience for accredited media representatives of all categories as the attention shifts to the 17th edition of Asia’s crown jewel in the UAE next month.
Redesigned to fit the theme of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Brand Guide, members of the media will be able to submit their applications for the specific matches they wish to cover through the revamped site while photographers will be given the added opportunity to select their pitch side seats via an interactive seat selection platform.
"We are fully committed towards staging the best-ever AFC Asian Cup for our passionate fans, players and teams and our success relies significantly on the continued support from all our stakeholders. Our friends from the media are a valued partner in this journey and they play a crucial role in helping the AFC grow the stature of our competitions, as underlined in the AFC’s Vision and Mission,” said Dato’ Windsor John, AFC General Secretary.
“We want to provide the best possible environment for all our stakeholders and ensuring a world-class platform for our media representatives, through the enhanced Media Channel, will help us in realising those ambitions.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Abu Dhabi: Since its inception in 1956, the AFC Asian Cup has seen 32 nations grace the ultimate stage. The decision to expand the 17th edition of Asia’s crown jewel to 24 teams made an instant impact with Kyrgyz Republic, the Philippines and Yemen marking the first time the tournament will see three debutants since the 2004 edition in China PR.
As the Continent’s most-anticipated showpiece draws closer, the three debutants are leaving nothing to chance in their quests to confirm their deserving place amongst Asia’s elite.
Philippines extended their outstanding form beyond their Qualifiers, impressing with a six-match unbeaten run since March, which included commendable draws against Bahrain, Oman and Thailand before their narrow defeat to Vietnam in the AFF Cup semi-finals last week.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 success is the target for all 24 teams in next month's Finals, but Palestine head coach Noureddine Ould Ali believes his side has a greater motivation - bringing joy to the Palestinian people.
Ould Ali, now eight months into his tenure as head coach, will guide Palestine in their second appearance in the competition following their 2015 debut on the continental stage in Australia.
Speaking to the-AFC.com, the Algerian tactician revealed the desire of his players to provide happiness for Palestinians around the world with their performances in the United Arab Emirates.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: When the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 gets underway next month there will be more than 550 players hoping to have a celebration as the final concludes on February 1, but before that there are plenty amongst that number who will be having a smaller party of their own given that their birthday falls during the four-week extravaganza.
22 of the 24 participating nations will likely have a birthday boy amongst their ranks, with 2007 winners Iraq heading the list given they could potentially have seven players set to blow out the candles should they progress to at least the quarter-finals.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Already a legend at club level with Shanghai SIPG, 27-year-old Wu Lei is looking to emulate his goal-scoring exploits in China PR colours at the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 in January.
Although he has never played his club football abroad, Wu Lei is widely regarded as one of the top players to have emerged from China PR over the past decade. His two nominations of the AFC Player of the Year award - he finished third in both 2016 and 2017 - are testament to his status in Asian football.
Nationality: China PR
Date of birth: 19/11/1991
Position: Winger
Current club: Shanghai SIPG
Previous clubs: None
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: With the biggest and best AFC Asian Cup less than one month away, passionate fans from across the Continent and beyond have confirmed the Team Bus slogans for the 24 participating teams.
After shortlisting the thousands of entries in phase one, each nation was then given a selection of three catchphrases to choose from in the second phase, which ended on November 1, 2018.
The month-long contest, which was launched to give football fans the opportunity to showcase their passion and be a part of the continental showpiece, was a major hit on social media with the second phase receiving over 105,000 votes across the AFC’s digital platforms.
Islamic Republic of Iran led the Continent in engagement numbers, garnering over 25,000 votes, with the winning slogan – Eighty Million People, One Nation, One Heartbeat – securing over 11,000 votes.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Kyrgyz Republic may be newcomers to the AFC Asian Cup, but head coach Aleksandr Krestinin believes his side are good enough to reach the knockout stage at UAE 2019.
The Central Asians are in Group C alongside Korea Republic, China PR and fellow first-time qualifiers the Philippine, but, while aware of the scale of the challenge ahead, Krestinin told the-AFC.com he is confident of a successful campaign in the United Arab Emirates.
"We understand our level, and the level of the AFC Asian Cup," the 40-year-old explained. "We must be competitively capable, and we have everything to be able to do that."