Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The 2019 WAFF Championship promises to be a thriller with nine teams set to battle for the title.
To be hosted by Iraq in Karbala and Arbil on July 30 to August 14, the teams have been divided into two groups.
Iraq, one of three former champions in the ninth edition of the 2019 WAFF Championship, have Syria, Yemen, Palestine and Lebanon for company in Group A.
Iraq won the title in 2002 while Syria were champions in 2012.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Newly appointed Singapore head coach Tatsuma Yoshida is optimistic about his team’s chances in Round Two of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 despite being drawn in a tough group.
Singapore were drawn in Group D with Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Palestine and Yemen - who have all played in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
The Lions, ranked 162 in the world, will face stiff competition in the qualifying campaign when they kick off against Yemen on September 5 and Palestine five days later.
Three-time AFC Asian Cup champions Saudi Arabia will be next on October 10 and Yoshida admitted Singapore face a huge challenge.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Korea Republic will remain true to the style they have developed under Paulo Bento, the Portuguese head coach said after Wednesday’s Asian Qualifiers draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 at AFC House.
Drawn alongside Lebanon, DPR Korea, Turkmenistan and Sri Lanka in a logistically-challenging Group H, Bento said that, while the approach may vary slightly for individual opponents, Korea Republic’s overarching philosophy will remain.
“Preparations, until now have, been good,” said the 50-year-old, who led Sporting and Olympiacos to silverware in European club football.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Indonesia head coach Simon McMenemy is anticipating some ‘hotly contested’ matches in Group G of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 on Wednesday.
The Garuda were drawn with three Southeast Asian rivals - Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam - with the United Arab Emirates the top seeded team.
“I was watching the draw and you just knew how it was going to unfold, you could sense it in the room,” McMenemy said in an exclusive interview with the-AFC.com.
“Once you saw Malaysia was playing with Indonesia, you just had this feeling of, 'Wow, wouldn’t it be interesting if Thailand and Vietnam were put in as well.'"
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Recently-appointed Turkmenistan head coach Ante Miše reacted positively to his side’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualifying draw, pinpointing an early win in Sri Lanka as the key to a chance of progression.
The Central Asian nation will face Korea Republic, Lebanon and DPR Korea – all of whom qualified for AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 – in Group H, as well as Sri Lanka: the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition at 201st in the world.
Turkmenistan will begin their campaign against the Sri Lankans on September 5, and Miše, who was appointed to the head coaching role in March, believes three points in that match could be the platform his team needs to challenge for further honours.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tokyo: Akira Nishino knows what his target as Thailand head coach is - that the Southeast Asians reach Japan's level.
"I want to build up the team so we can compete well against Japan," said Nishino, who guided Japan to the Round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
"I was honoured to receive this offer. I went to Thailand in June and I could recognise their great passion. Thailand has potential. First, we will work to become leaders in Southeast Asia."
Football Association of Thailand President Pol.Gen. Somyot Pumpanmuang was present at Nishino's unveiling in Tokyo on Friday.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The Round Two draw of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 concluded in the Malaysian capital on Wednesday.
The draw, conducted by FIFA Director of Competitions Christian Unger and Australian legend Tim Cahill, saw Asia's top ranked team Islamic Republic of Iran pooled in Group C alongside Iraq, Bahrain, Hong Kong and Cambodia.
Iran will be aiming for a third consecutive appearance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, having narrowly missed on qualifying for the knockout stage in Russia 2018.