Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: As fans around the Continent eagerly await the kick-off of Round 2 of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and AFC Asian Cup China 2023, the-AFC.com recalls some of the most memorable qualifying duels from the past.
While all footballers dream of making an impact on the big stage, sometimes the qualification journey can just be as memorable as the destination.
Stunning fightbacks, last minute winners and superhuman performances from some of Asia’s all-time footballing greats feature in this qualification quartet, which features clashes from both the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/tajikistan-flashback2.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/yamaguchimahdavikia97.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/bahrain-saudi_arabia1-wc2010-afp_2.html
www.the-afc.com/en/national/fifa_world_cup/video/syria_vs_australia.html
www.the-afc.com/en/national/fifa_world_cup/video/australia_vs_syria.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia head coach Tan Cheng Hoe wants his players to keep their emotions in check when they begin their FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers Round 2 campaign against Indonesia next week.
Malaysia will play their Group G opening tie against Indonesia on September 5 in Jakarta in what is standout match on Matchday one of the Asian Qualifiers.
Indonesia hold a slight advantage in terms of the recent head-to-head, having won three of their last five matches and Tan has called for calm ahead of their visit to the Bung Karno Stadium.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Korea Republic head coach Paulo Bento believes his players' ability to take on multiple positions will carry the team a long way in their FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers Round 2 campaign next month.
Bento unveiled his 26-man roster on Monday and will use the friendly against Georgia on September 5 as a tune-up before they play Turkmenistan in their opening Qualifiers' tie five days later.
Korea Republic will also face Lebanon, DPR Korea and Sri Lanka in Group H, as they seek to qualify for their 10th consecutive FIFA World Cup.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
West Bank: Palestine will be powered by their foreign-based stars for their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers campaign.
Head coach Noureddin Ould Ali has called up 28 players for his preliminary squad including Yaser Hamed Mayor of Spanish club Club Portugalete, Nazmi Albadawi - who is on loan at North Carolina FC from MLS franchise FC Cincinnati and Tamer Seyam of Moroccan club Hassania Agadir.
Also called up are Islam Batran of Jordan’s Al Jazeera Club, Mahmoud Wadi of Egypt’s Al Masry SC, Saleh Chihadeh of Swiss Super League outfit FC Thun and Oday Dabbagh of Kuwait’s Al Salmiya.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tashkent: Uzbekistan will take a mixture of youth and experience to Palestine for their opening FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Asian Qualifiers fixture next month, after head coach Hector Cuper named a 24-man squad on Thursday.
The White Wolves – ranked 84th in the world and 10th in Asia – will meet the Palestinians at Al Ram Stadium on September 5 in the first step of their bid to reach a maiden senior World Cup.
Veterans such as captain Odil Ahmedov (pictured above), 31, and defender Anzur Ismailov ,34, will be joined by the likes of 18-year-old Lokomotiv midfielder Oston Urunov, with 21-year-old Aziz Ganiev the youngest of a host of players in their early 20s.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Singapore: Singapore head coach Tatsuma Yoshida will be counting on home support when The Lions open their Asian Qualifiers campaign for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.
Singapore will play their first two Group D fixtures on home soil, where they will host Yemen at the National Stadium on September 5, before facing Palestine at the Jalan Besar Stadium five days later.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kathmandu: With eight of the world's 10 tallest mountains located across their country, the Nepalese are renowned for their ability to scale great heights. Now though, in football, Nepal will have to figuratively do likewise during the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023
The Nepalese travel to Kuwait on September 5 to challenge the hosts and 1980 AFC Asian Cup champions in their opening Group B Qualifiers. The West Asians represent a daunting task for Nepal. The first meeting between the two nations saw Kuwait triumph 5-0 in a 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualifier but nearly two decades on, Nepal, now coached by Swede Johan Kalin, showed what progress they have made when the pair reunited in a couple of friendlies in March.
What had been anticipated as one-sided matches turned out to be closely contested, with the strongly-favoured Kuwait held to a goalless draw on home soil in the first match, before managing a solitary-goal win.