Standing Committees

AFC STANDING COMMITTEE LATEST NEWS

AFC Associations Committee strengthens good governance and professional standards

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

AFC Associations Committee strengthens good governance and professional standards

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s continued strides towards upholding its cherished values of good governance and professionalism were further underlined by the AFC Associations Committee at its third meeting held virtually on Friday.

At the outset, Chairperson Hachem Haidar singled out the landmark Guidelines on Principles of Good Governance for Regional Associations’ (RAs) Statutes, which have been strategically introduced with the aim of ensuring the democratic, fair, transparent, and financially responsible functioning of the AFC's five RAs.

China PR to host AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027™

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

China PR to host AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027™

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee ratified on Wednesday the AFC Competitions Committee’s recommendation to award the hosting rights of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027™ to the Chinese Football Association.

First held in 1959, the 2027 showpiece will mark the competition’s 43rd edition with China PR, the sole bidders, set to provide the backdrop for Asia’s top 16 sides for a second consecutive occasion following the success of the 2025 iteration, which was held in Shenzhen from February 12 to March 1 this year.

OCAC underlines importance of world-class #AsianCup2027 delivery standards

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

OCAC underlines importance of world-class #AsianCup2027 delivery standards

Riyadh: With just under 450 days to go to the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™, the Organising Committee of AFC Asian Cup (OCAC) has today praised the meticulous planning undertaken to stage the best edition of the Continent’s premier men’s competition, which will be held in the Kingdom from January 7 to February 5.

Leading the fourth OCAC meeting in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Chairperson Mariano V. Araneta, Jr. underlined his confidence in the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to set new benchmarks of excellence across all areas.

AFC Social Responsibility Committee outlines strategic approach for more inspired outcomes

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

AFC Social Responsibility Committee outlines strategic approach for more inspired outcomes

Riyadh: The AFC Social Responsibility Committee reinforced its ambitions to maximise the impact of the beautiful game to enrich and empower the Continent’s most marginalised communities after approving several key decisions today at its third meeting held in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Kicking off the proceedings, Chairperson Zaw Zaw hailed the upcoming AFC Dream Asia Foundation Conference 2025 to be held in the Kingdom tomorrow as a breakthrough moment for social responsibility on the Continent.

AFC introduces new programme to elevate infrastructure standards

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

AFC introduces new programme to elevate infrastructure standards

Riyadh: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Development Committee today approved a new development programme, which has been specially designed to systematically strengthen the football infrastructure of the Confederation’s Member Associations (MAs) across the Continent.

Led by Deputy Chairperson Valentino San Gil, the Committee, which concluded its third meeting in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, unanimously approved the landmark AFC Equal Pitch Programme and Policy, which aims to not only enhance the development of football infrastructure in Asia but also foster the growth of grassroots and community-level football.

Record performing AFC digital assets lauded by AFC Media & Communications Committee

Mon, 22 Sep, 2025

Record performing AFC digital assets lauded by AFC Media & Communications Committee

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s commitment toward strengthening its narrative-building capabilities and connection with audiences across the globe was reaffirmed today by the AFC Media & Communications Committee at its third meeting held virtually.

Leading the meeting, Chairperson Ganbaatar Amgalanbaatar praised the record engagement numbers achieved in the milestone and revamped 2024/25 club season, which further reinforced the Confederation’s Vision and Mission of confirming football as Asia’s number one sport.

AFC Marketing Committee inspired by growing appeal of AFC’s new brand and competitions

Thu, 21 Aug, 2025

AFC Marketing Committee inspired by growing appeal of AFC’s new brand and competitions

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Marketing Committee hailed the impact of the extensive rebranding exercises undertaken in the past year, which include the launch of new logos and identities of its revamped club competitions as well as the Confederation’s overarching corporate brand.

Leading the Committee’s third meeting held virtually earlier today, Deputy Chairperson Abdullah Nasser Aljneibi was pleased to note the transformative impact of the new identities in establishing a more modern, sophisticated and refined presence whilst also strengthening the AFC’s connection with its valued stakeholders and the larger football community.

AFC Women’s Football Committee confident #WAC2026 will be catalyst for future growth

Mon, 28 Jul, 2025

AFC Women’s Football Committee confident #WAC2026 will be catalyst for future growth

Sydney: The AFC Women’s Football Committee today reinforced its belief in Football Australia and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to stage the most successful edition of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ in history.

Leading its fourth meeting on the eve of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Final Draw in Sydney, Chairperson Ms. Kanya Keomany emphasised the Committee’s conviction in the potential of the 21st edition of Asia’s flagship women’s national team competition to serve as a catalyst in unlocking the promise of the women’s game across the Continent.

Best-ever AFC Medical Conference commended by AFC Medical Committee

Sat, 26 Jul, 2025

Best-ever AFC Medical Conference commended by AFC Medical Committee

Kuala Lumpur: The breakthrough impact of the 8th AFC Medical Conference, which concluded on Friday, was praised by the AFC Medical Committee at its fourth meeting held in the Malaysian capital on Saturday.

AFC Medical Committee Chairperson Dato’ Dr. Gurcharan Singh commenced proceedings by hailing the 8th AFC Medical Conference as the most insightful edition to date, emphasising its pivotal role in strengthening the sports science and medicine capabilities of the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs).

Breakthrough programmes for match officials lauded by AFC Referees Committee

Wed, 16 Jul, 2025

Breakthrough programmes for match officials lauded by AFC Referees Committee

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Referees Committee’s commitment to produce world-class match officials capable of gracing the world’s biggest stages was further reinforced today at its third meeting held virtually.

Chairperson Hany Taleb B S Al-Raeesi led the Committee in commending the numerous innovative programmes introduced and implemented throughout the years – all with the aim to educate, train and enhance the capabilities and skillsets of the Continent’s match officials, so many of whom have been entrusted in record numbers to oversee some of the most high-profile matches in world football.

AFC Technical Committee approves key decisions to uplift standards of Asian football

Tue, 27 May, 2025

AFC Technical Committee approves key decisions to uplift standards of Asian football

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Technical Committee reinforced its focus towards further elevating the technical foundations of Asian football by approving a host of key strategic decisions at its third meeting held virtually today.

Led by Chairperson Kohzo Tashima, the Committee took the opportunity to congratulate the winners of the recently concluded Continental deciders, which include the newly crowned champions of the revamped men’s club competitions as well as the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League™.

Saudi Arabia recommended as host of AFC U17 Asian Cup™ from 2026 to 2028

Sat, 03 May, 2025

Saudi Arabia recommended as host of AFC U17 Asian Cup™ from 2026 to 2028

Jeddah: Saudi Arabia have been selected as the hosts of the next three editions of the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competitions Committee at its fourth meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today.

Following a comprehensive Bid Evaluation process as well as an overall risk assessment exercise, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) was selected by the Committee from among three bidders, which included the Chinese Football Association (CFA) and the Iraqi Football Association.