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#AWCL contenders to discover Knockout Stage showdowns

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

#AWCL contenders to discover Knockout Stage showdowns

Kuala Lumpur: The Continent’s elite women’s clubs are set for the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL) 2025/26™ Knockout Stage Draw, which will take place at 3pm on January 15 (Thursday) at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

Eight teams—the top two of each group and the two best third-placed sides overall—progressed from the Group Stage, which concluded last November, to take their place in the next round of the second edition of the landmark AWCL and will contest single-leg Quarter-finals on March 28 and 29, 2026.

Viettel appointed Official Media Partner of AFC competitions in Vietnam

Thu, 25 Dec, 2025

Viettel appointed Official Media Partner of AFC competitions in Vietnam

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) today announced a new multi-year media rights partnership with Viettel Group, appointing the company as the Official Media Partner for a wide range of the AFC’s national team and club competitions in Vietnam, with the agreement coming into force and effect from January 1, 2026.

Through this agreement, Viettel will deliver comprehensive coverage of Asia’s premier football competitions via its TV360 platform, providing over 10 million active users across Vietnam with enhanced access to world-class Asian football content.

Road to #AFCU23 glory ignites at Saudi Arabia 2026

Mon, 29 Dec, 2025

Road to #AFCU23 glory ignites at Saudi Arabia 2026

Kuala Lumpur: All eyes will turn to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a week’s time when the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ gets underway in the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh.

The Continent’s best talents are poised to prove that they can make the next step in their careers at the seventh edition of the tournament, which runs from January 6 to 24.

#ACLTwo knockout ties to be determined

Thu, 25 Dec, 2025

#ACLTwo knockout ties to be determined

Kuala Lumpur: The remaining 16 teams in the AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) 2025/26 will discover their Knockout Stage opponents on December 30 (Tuesday) at 3pm at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

Eight teams each from the West and East successfully progressed from the Group Stage, which concluded on Wednesday, to seal their Round of 16 berths in the 21st edition of the Continent’s second-tier men’s tournament and keep their hopes of glory alive.

Venues confirmed for AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2026

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Venues confirmed for AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2026

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced today the two match venues that will stage the AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) Finals Jeddah 2026, which will take place between April 16 to 25, 2026.

Having both hosted the 2025 edition of the ACL Elite Finals, the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium will once again serve as the battlegrounds for the final seven showdowns of the 2025/26 season of the ACL Elite.

Karma Dema: I want to open doors for more women in Bhutanese football

Mon, 22 Dec, 2025

Karma Dema: I want to open doors for more women in Bhutanese football

Kuala Lumpur: The latest edition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s It’s My Game campaign follows the career of Bhutan’s Karma Dema, one of the 20 women coaches selected for the pilot edition of the landmark AFC–Japan Football Association (JFA) Pro Diploma course.

At just 32, Dema has already carved her name into Bhutanese football history when, in 2024, she took charge of newly formed Tsirang FC, becoming one of the first women to lead a men’s team in the Bhutan Premier League (BPL).

AFC to introduce Nations League to enhance development opportunities

Sun, 21 Dec, 2025

AFC to introduce Nations League to enhance development opportunities

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening National Team football across the Continent with plans to introduce an AFC Nations League in the coming period, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance development opportunities for its Member Associations (MAs) and establish a more structured and sustainable international match framework.

In line with the recent successful reforms across the AFC’s club competitions ecosystem, the Confederation continues to pursue strategic initiatives that support sustainable growth, competitive balance and meaningful match exposure, while improving calendar certainty for National Teams.

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.

First-ever AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ mascot unveiled

Fri, 05 Dec, 2025

First-ever AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ mascot unveiled

Gold Coast: With less than 100 days to go, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ today unveiled the first-ever official mascot in the history of the competition: Naara, the fire horse.

Introduced to fans amid festivities celebrating International Volunteers’ Day in Gold Coast, the milestone follows the launch of WAVEMAKER, the tournament’s first-ever bespoke match ball created by Kelme, further underscoring the AFC’s commitment to setting new benchmarks for the Continent’s premier women’s national team competition.

Inaugural AFC Integrity Education Programme 2025 enhances MA and RA capabilities

Thu, 27 Nov, 2025

Inaugural AFC Integrity Education Programme 2025 enhances MA and RA capabilities

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation’s steadfast resolve to safeguard the integrity of football on the Continent was once again underlined with the successful completion of the AFC Integrity Education Programme 2025 on Thursday.

The programme, which commenced in March 2025 with a series of online workshops, concluded with a two-day on-site event at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where integrity officers from across the AFC’s Member Associations came together to consolidate their learning.

Invitations to Tender for AFC Commercial Rights (2029-2036 cycle) to commence on December 15, 2025

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025

Invitations to Tender for AFC Commercial Rights (2029-2036 cycle) to commence on December 15, 2025

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will commence a tender process on Monday, December 15, 2025 for the sale of all commercial rights and fulfillment of associated commercial services relating to the AFC’s National Team and Club competitions for the next two rights cycles between 2029 and 2036.

CommBank announced as Official Regional Partner of AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

CommBank announced as Official Regional Partner of AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™

Sydney: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is proud to announce Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CommBank) as the Official Regional Partner of the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™. This milestone partnership underscores CommBank’s commitment to supporting football and fostering community engagement across Australia and the wider Asian region.

As part of the partnership, CommBank will have the exclusive opportunity to run a promotion to select kids who will have the exciting prospect of accompanying players during the march-in at the pre-match ceremony for each game of the tournament, which is scheduled to take place from March 1 to 21.