Match officials set for educational journey in the AFC Referee Academy

Wed, 23 Mar, 2022

Match officials set for educational journey in the AFC Referee Academy

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Referee Academy on Monday welcomed its largest-ever intake of 50 match officials from 28 Member Associations (MAs) who will undergo a three-year educational programme that is specifically and carefully designed to produce more world-class referees in Asia.

Batch 4 of the AFC Referee Academy will comprise of 41 men and nine women referees who will be tutored by former match officials as well as key speakers and mentored by AFC Referee educators on a wide range of topics related to refereeing including technical and physical sessions. 

Preview - Group A: Korea Republic v Islamic Republic of Iran

Wed, 23 Mar, 2022

Preview - Group A: Korea Republic v Islamic Republic of Iran

Seoul: Top spot in Group A is on the line when familiar foes Korea Republic and Islamic Republic of Iran clash on Matchday Nine of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday.

Both teams have already secured their passage to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ having wrapped up the first two places with minimal fuss, while the pair remain unbeaten after eight games.

AFC Asian Qualifiers: Five classic Australia v Japan encounters

Wed, 23 Mar, 2022

AFC Asian Qualifiers: Five classic Australia v Japan encounters

Sydney: The stakes could scarcely be higher when Australia and Japan meet in Thursday’s crucial AFC Asian Qualifiers-Road to Qatar™ clash and, for the last 15 years or so, that has been par for the course.

Ever since Australia became a part of the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, the two nations have been virtually inseparable, meeting in every FIFA World Cup™ qualification cycle and two blockbuster AFC Asian Cup™ clashes, including the 2011 final in Doha.
 
They don’t share a border, or a language, and they had only met a handful of times prior to the 1990s but the Socceroos and Samurai Blue have since developed one of the continent’s most compelling footballing rivalries, with almost every meeting between them coming at a crucial time, and invariably taking on blockbuster status.
 
Their next fixture comfortably fulfills those criteria.

Participants gain new insights in AFC Emotions in Football Workshop

Wed, 23 Mar, 2022

Participants gain new insights in AFC Emotions in Football Workshop

Kuala Lumpur: 119 participants from 38 Member Associations (MAs) joined the AFC Emotions in Football Workshop on Tuesday as the Japan Football Association (JFA) and the Qatar Football Association (QFA) presented their comprehensive activities and future action plans. 

The JFA and QFA are the first pilot MAs to implement the new AFC’s Emotions in Football Project that was launched last year to study how emotions can affect the performances of players and their personal well-being. 

Procedures for the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ released

Tue, 22 Mar, 2022

Procedures for the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ released

Zurich: As the biggest milestone ahead of football’s flagship event fast approaches, the procedures for the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ are now available.

Fans and teams will find out their paths to possible glory on 1 April from 19:00 (local time), at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center at which time 29 out of the 32 participants will be known.

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ in Numbers

Tue, 22 Mar, 2022

AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ in Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: The final round of AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™ is upon us with third place still to play for in Group A and two automatic tickets for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ up for grabs in Group B ahead of Matchdays Nine and Ten.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic have already progressed but will battle it out for top spot in Group A, where three teams are competing for the playoff berth in third place. In Group B, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Australia are all aiming to finish in the top two positions. 

It’s been a thrilling ride in the final round of AFC Asian Qualifiers to date, and we highlight some of the numbers that stand out.