AFC President calls on global football family to unite behind FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Sat, 05 Nov, 2022

AFC President calls on global football family to unite behind FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Kuala Lumpur: With just more than two weeks remaining until the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has urged the global football family to firmly unite behind the sporting spectacle. 

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which will be held from November 20 to December 18, will be only the second time an Asian country hosts the tournament, following the Korea/Japan FIFA World Cup in 2002. 

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 2006

Thu, 03 Nov, 2022

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 2006

Kuala Lumpur: With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 drawing ever closer, the-AFC.com continues its series of looking back at how Asian teams have performed at the global showpiece over the years.

Following the emphatic success of Korea Republic and Japan, the co-hosts of 2002, Asian football was on the rise, and returned four years later with Islamic Republic of Iran replacing China PR as part of the quartet representing the AFC at Germany 2006.

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 2002

Tue, 01 Nov, 2022

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 2002

Kuala Lumpur: 2002 was a special year in the history of Asian football as, for the first time since the first ball was kicked at the 1930 edition in Uruguay, the FIFA World Cup finally came to Asia.

The 17th edition of the global showpiece was also the first to be co-hosted as Japan and Korea Republic joined forces to deliver a festival of football in which they both excelled, with the Taeguk Warriors producing a remarkable run to the semi-finals. 

There was also a first and, to date, only appearance from China PR, while Saudi Arabia returned for a third successive time.

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 1998

Tue, 01 Nov, 2022

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 1998

Kuala Lumpur: With the FIFA World Cup™ Qatar 2022 drawing ever closer, the-AFC.com continues its series of looking back at how the Asian teams have performed at the global showpiece over the years.

With the World Cup expanding into 32 teams for the first time, Asia benefited from 3.5 seats at France 1998. Just as they did in the previous edition, Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic were present, while Japan took the third spot and Islamic Republic of Iran ensured the AFC had a four-team contingent for the first-time ever, snatching the qualification ticket in the Intercontinental Playoff from Australia, then representing the OFC.

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 1994

Sun, 30 Oct, 2022

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 1994

Kuala Lumpur: As we move ever closer towards the FIFA World Cup™ Qatar 2022 and the football world converging on Asia for the global showpiece, the-AFC.com continues its series where we look back at the displays of Asian teams in the tournament over the years.

Having reviewed the 1990 competition last time round, we turn our focus to the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States which was the last one with just two representatives from Asia and where the displays by both Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic only justified the inclusion of more Asian nations in the later editions.

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 1990

Fri, 28 Oct, 2022

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 1990

Kuala Lumpur: The FIFA World Cup returns to Asia for the second time as Qatar welcomes the world in the exceptional November-December edition in which they are set to become the 13th different team to represent the continent in the global football showpiece.

As we count down towards the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium, the-AFC.com goes on a journey down memory lane to remember some of the most memorable moments for Asian football at the FIFA World Cup.

The 1990 FIFA World Cup saw Korea Republic and the United Arab Emirates make strides forward in their footballing histories.

Despite not winning a single game, Korea Republic ended up unearthing two players who would forever become icons of Korean football, while the UAE’s rise to prominence in Asian football was marked with a debut FIFA World Cup appearance six years before they reached the AFC Asian Cup final.

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 1986

Fri, 28 Oct, 2022

Asian Moments at the FIFA World Cup: 1986

Kuala Lumpur: With the FIFA World Cup™ Qatar 2022 drawing ever closer, the-AFC.com continues its series of looking back at how the Asian teams have performed at the global showpiece over the years.

Having looked at the early editions last time out, we turn our focus to the 1986 tournament in Mexico when Iraq made their first and, to date, only appearance at the FIFA World Cup and Korea Republic returned 32 years after making their debut in 1954.

Asian Moments at FIFA World Cup: The Early Years

Sat, 22 Oct, 2022

Asian Moments at FIFA World Cup: The Early Years

Kuala Lumpur: The FIFA World Cup returns to Asia for the second time in a month's time as Qatar welcomes the world in the exceptional November-December edition in which they are set to become the 13th different team to represent the continent in the global football showpiece.

With just under 30 days to go to the hotly-anticipated opening game between Qatar and Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium, the-AFC.com goes on a journey down memory lane to remember some of the most memorable moments for Asian football at the FIFA World Cup.