Technical - Latest News

Reforms introduced; China PR recommended to host AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup™ in 2028 and 2030

Fri, 20 Mar, 2026

Reforms introduced; China PR recommended to host AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup™ in 2028 and 2030

Sydney: The AFC Women’s Football Committee hailed the rising standards of the women’s game across the Continent, exemplified by the delivery of the best-ever AFC Women’s Asian Cup™ in Australia, which will see the host nation face Japan for the coveted title at Stadium Australia in Sydney at 8pm (local time) on Saturday.

Chairing the Committee’s fifth meeting, Ms. Kanya Keomany also extended her wholehearted congratulations to the six Asian sides for sealing their places at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 and wished tomorrow’s finalists as well as the AFC’s representatives in the FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-Off Tournament the very best of

AFC charts grassroots development direction for 2026/27 term

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

AFC charts grassroots development direction for 2026/27 term

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s commitment to ensure the beautiful game remains the number one sport across the Continent was reinforced today during the first AFC Grassroots Panel meeting for the 2026–2027 term.

Attended by 17 members, the virtual event laid out the pathways and priorities for the new cycle as part of the AFC’s ongoing mission to establish a firm foundation for the game throughout the Continent in collaboration with its Member Associations (MAs).

It’s My Game at the #WAC2026: Behind the scenes with match commissioners

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

It’s My Game at the #WAC2026: Behind the scenes with match commissioners

Sydney: While the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ continues to showcase Asia’s finest players on the pitch, another team is playing an equally vital role behind the scenes

As part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s It’s My Game campaign, the spotlight now turns to the competition’s Match Commissioners, the team whose tireless efforts ensure every matchday is delivered to the highest standards.

It’s My Game at #WAC2026: A dive into Dong Fangyu’s stellar career

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

It’s My Game at #WAC2026: A dive into Dong Fangyu’s stellar career

Sydney: As the Continent’s attention remains fixed on the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) shines the spotlight on China PR’s Dong Fangyu, who officiated the opening match of the competition, in the first instalment of the It’s My Game campaign this year.

As Perth Stadium geared up for a historic night that promised the highest-attended match in the history of the Continental showpiece at the time, Dong quietly added another milestone to her already impressive career.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/technical/womens_football.html/video/its-my-game-dong-fangyu

Youth development to be boosted by new AFC academy network

Fri, 13 Mar, 2026

Youth development to be boosted by new AFC academy network

Kuala Lumpur: In a move that underlines its dedication to elevating youth development systems across the Continent, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is set to implement a new initiative to further bolster collaboration among youth academies.

Announced during the 1st AFC Youth Panel Meeting for the 2026–2027 term on Thursday, the AFC Youth Academy Network intends to bring together youth academy directors from well-established professional clubs in Asia with the aim of stimulating more dialogue between AFC and the clubs’ elite-youth departments, increasing promotion and development of the AFC’s Elite Youth Scheme, and fostering deeper cooperation between national youth teams and the clubs.

New AFC initiatives to further bolster coach development

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

New AFC initiatives to further bolster coach development

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the coach education landscape across the Continent with the announcement of two significant initiatives on Tuesday.

Chairing the AFC Coach Education Panel’s first meeting of the 2026/27 term, AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh confirmed that two key developments are set to take place: updates to the AFC Coaching Convention’s Regulations & Guidelines and the introduction of the Coach Educators’ Club Initiative.

Record-breaking 42 MAs celebrate AFC Women’s Football Day 2026

Sun, 08 Mar, 2026

Record-breaking 42 MAs celebrate AFC Women’s Football Day 2026

Kuala Lumpur: A record-breaking 42 Member Associations (MAs) will join the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to commemorate AFC Women’s Football Day 2026 with a series of activities aimed at promoting and recognising the continued progress of the women’s game in Asia.

The 12th edition of the annual celebration comes at a particularly significant time, as the Continent celebrates its premier women’s national team competition, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup™, which is underway from March 1 to 21 in Australia.

#WAC2026: Meet the Technical Observers’ Team

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

#WAC2026: Meet the Technical Observers’ Team

Sydney: As the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ gears up to showcase the finest female football talent on the continent, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s Technical Observers Team (TOT) will be meticulously analysing every match of the 12 participating teams.

Comprising a hand-picked group of experienced coaches, educators and analysts, the team will play a key role in identifying emerging technical and tactical trends, spotlighting rising talent and producing insights that will form the basis of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Technical Report.

Experts share technical insights at AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Online Session

Wed, 25 Feb, 2026

Experts share technical insights at AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Online Session

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Online Session took place on Tuesday, bringing together technicians from across the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s Member Associations (MAs) to reflect on a milestone edition of the competition that concluded earlier this year.

Staged across the cities of Jeddah and Riyadh from January 6 to 24, the seventh edition marked the last instance of it being played in a non-Olympic year, with the tournament set to be hosted quadrennially as Asia’s official Olympic qualifying platform from 2028 onwards.

Coaches Circle 15 shines spotlight on Julen Lopetegui

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Coaches Circle 15 shines spotlight on Julen Lopetegui

Kuala Lumpur: Julen Lopetegui, who led Qatar to their maiden FIFA World Cup qualification on merit in October last year, takes centre stage in the latest edition of Coaches Circle, now available on the-AFC.com.

Hailing from Spain’s Basque Country, the 59-year-old boasts of serving as custodian for both La Liga giants Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, while his impressive managerial career has also spanned various age groups across the Spain’s national teams as well as reputed clubs across Europe, including Spain’s Sevilla FC, Portugal’s FC Porto, and English sides West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, before taking the reins of the Al Annabi in May 2025.

FFC’s youth development drive recognised with AFC Elite Youth Scheme one-star membership

Fri, 23 Jan, 2026

FFC’s youth development drive recognised with AFC Elite Youth Scheme one-star membership

Phnom Penh: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has welcomed the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) as the latest one-star member under the acclaimed AFC Elite Youth Scheme.

The endorsement followed an on-site assessment by AFC Youth Panel members, who were pleased to note the Federation’s commitment to the long-term improvement of its youth football landscape.