All to play for after day of draws in CAFA U15 Championship

Mon, 22 Nov, 2021

All to play for after day of draws in CAFA U15 Championship

Dushanbe: The Central Asian youth title remains up for grabs after all four participating teams played out draws on the penultimate Matchday of the CAFA U15 Championship in Dushanbe on Sunday.

Hosts Tajikistan played out a 1-1 draw in a top of the table clash against Islamic Republic of Iran, while Uzbekistan scored a late leveller against Kyrgyz Republic to ensure all teams have a mathematical chance of winning the title in Tuesday’s final round of matches.

Qatar 2022: One year to go until the first FIFA World Cup™ in the Middle East and Arab world

Sun, 21 Nov, 2021

Qatar 2022: One year to go until the first FIFA World Cup™ in the Middle East and Arab world

Doha: On 21 November 2022, the first FIFA World Cup™ in the Middle East and Arab world will begin as the world’s best national teams meet in Qatar. 

The tournament will be like no other, offering fans the opportunity to discover the culture of the host country and the chance to attend more than one match per day during the group stage. 

One year until Qatar 2022 – The global state of play

Sun, 21 Nov, 2021

One year until Qatar 2022 – The global state of play

Kuala Lumpur: It’s exactly one year until the greatest show on earth kicks off in Qatar, and teams from every corner of the globe are doing their very best to make sure they’ll be there.

Thirteen teams have already qualified for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, while a total of 61 nations are still vying for the 19 remaining places, but what exactly is the current state of play?

Join the-AFC.com as we jet off on a world tour and bring you up to date with who’s in, who can join them and what are the major talking points in the race to reach the Finals.

2021 AFC Champions League Final – The Coach: Leonardo Jardim (Al Hilal SFC)

Sun, 21 Nov, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League Final – The Coach: Leonardo Jardim (Al Hilal SFC)

Riyadh: Leonardo Jardim hopes to become the first Portuguese manager to win the AFC Champions League as he leads Al Hilal SFC against Pohang Steelers in the final on Tuesday.

An honour first achieved in Europe by Arthur Jorge in 1987 with FC Porto and followed twice by Jose Mourinho since, in South America in 2019 by former Al Hilal boss Jorge Jesus with Flamengo and the following year by Abel Ferreira at Palmeiras, remains unprecedented in the world’s largest continent, offering Jardim the opportunity to create history for his nation.

2021 AFC Champions League Final – The Coach: Kim Gi-dong (Pohang Steelers)

Sun, 21 Nov, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League Final – The Coach: Kim Gi-dong (Pohang Steelers)

Riyadh: Not many people have tasted success as both a player and a head coach for their beloved club, but Kim Gi-dong is on the verge of doing just that for Pohang Steelers. 

Having been part of the 2009 AFC Champions League-winning squad and claiming several other titles with Pohang during his playing days, Kim has now led the side to the 2021 continental final. 

Ahead of the grand finale against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC on November 23, the 49-year-old is aiming to become one of a select few to have won Asia’s biggest club prize as both a player and head coach. 

2021 AFC Champions League Final: Al Hilal SFC v Pohang Steelers - The Form Guide

Sun, 21 Nov, 2021

2021 AFC Champions League Final: Al Hilal SFC v Pohang Steelers - The Form Guide

Riyadh: Football lovers around the continent were gripped by two outstanding 2021 AFC Champions League semi-finals in October, but – as the final between Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal SFC and Pohang Steelers of Korea Republic draws ever closer - how have the two sides fared since?

Key league fixtures and a crucial international window have come and gone since Tuesday’s finalists booked their place in the decider, and there’s much to ponder ahead of the biggest match on the Asian club football calendar.

Join the-AFC.com as we fill you in on all the key events and results since the semi-finals, and how each side has prepared for the final.

Wins for Tajikistan, IR Iran as CAFA U15 Championship kicks off

Fri, 19 Nov, 2021

Wins for Tajikistan, IR Iran as CAFA U15 Championship kicks off

Dushanbe: Tajikistan delivered a five-star performance, while Islamic Republic of Iran left it late to beat Uzbekistan as the CAFA U15 Championship began in Dushanbe on Friday.

The tournament hosts had four different goal scorers in their emphatic win over Kyrgyz Republic to rocket to the top of the standings at the end of Matchday One.

The event, which features the promising youngsters from four Central Asian nations, will be held on a round-robin basis until a champion is crowned next Wednesday.