#ACL2022 Final: The Venues

Sat, 15 Apr, 2023

#ACL2022 Final: The Venues

Kuala Lumpur: The two legs of the AFC Champions League™ 2022 Final will take place at two of Asia’s most iconic football venues: King Fahd International Stadium and Saitama Stadium.

As Al Hilal SFC and Urawa Red Diamonds get set to renew one of Asia’s greatest rivalries by meeting in the final for the third time in six editions, their respective stadiums offer the perfect settings for the continent’s biggest club game. 
 
With the first leg set to take place in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh on April 29 and the return meeting slated for Saitama Stadium in Saitama on May 6, the-AFC.com takes a closer look at the two venues. 

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www.the-afc.com/en/more/video/al_hilal_vs_al_ain_afc_champions_league_2014_semi_final_1st_leg.html

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www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/urawa_reds_vs_sepahan-_afc_champions_league_2007_final_2nd_leg.html

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www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/2955120.html

Koroki: Stronger-than-ever Al Hilal will be Urawa’s toughest test

Thu, 13 Apr, 2023

Koroki: Stronger-than-ever Al Hilal will be Urawa’s toughest test

Saitama: Shinzo Koroki may have played no part in Urawa Red Diamonds’ run to the AFC Champions League™ 2022 final but the veteran striker is under no illusion that opponents Al Hilal SFC provide the biggest obstacle yet in the Japanese club’s bid to become three-time Asian champions. 

Having spent nine years at Urawa, playing in two continental finals and winning one of them, Koroki was loaned out to Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo for the 2022 campaign and thus missed his parent club’s march to a fourth AFC Champions League finale. 

Al Hilal ready to fight for title, says Al Faraj

Thu, 13 Apr, 2023

Al Hilal ready to fight for title, says Al Faraj

Riyadh: Al Hilal SFC captain Salman Al Faraj is in a race against time as he tries to recover from injury to lead his boyhood club in their defence of the  AFC Champions League™ title when they take on Urawa Red Diamonds in the 2022 final.

The 33-year-old midfielder is also pursuing a personal record as he aims to join an elite group of players to appear in five AFC Champions League finals; a feat he could share with teammates Salem Al Dawsari, Yasser Al Shahrani and goalkeeper Abdullah Al Mayouf.
 
The quartet represented Al Hilal in the 2014 and 2017 finals which they lost to Western Sydney Wanderers and Urawa respectively, before picking up the trophy against Urawa in 2019 and against Pohang Steelers in 2021, while Al Mayouf only joined Al Hilal in 2015, but had already appeared in the 2012 final in Al Ahli Saudi colours.

Al Nassr part company with French coach Garcia

Fri, 14 Apr, 2023

Al Nassr part company with French coach Garcia

Riyadh: Al Nassr have parted company with French coach Rudi Garcia, the Saudi Pro League side announced on Thursday.

"Al Nassr can announce that head coach Rudi Garcia has left the club by mutual agreement," they said in a statement on their English language Twitter feed.
 
"The board and everyone at Al Nassr would like to thank Rudi and his staff for their dedicated work during the past eight months."

#FIFAWWC Watch: How are Asia's teams shaping up

Wed, 12 Apr, 2023

#FIFAWWC Watch: How are Asia's teams shaping up

Kuala Lumpur: Asia's six representatives were all in action during the International Break as they ramped up their preparations for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023.

While the Philippines and Vietnam contested in Round 1 of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 Asian Qualifiers, Australia, China PR, Japan and Korea Republic were involved in friendlies.
 
With less than a hundred days to go the FIFA Women's World Cup, the-AFC.com takes a look at what Asia's representatives can take back from the international break.

Qualifiers Round 2 cast finalised

Wed, 12 Apr, 2023

Qualifiers Round 2 cast finalised

Kuala Lumpur: Another three teams advanced as Round 1 of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 Asian Qualifiers concluded on Tuesday.

The seven Round 1 group winners - Uzbekistan (Group A), Islamic Republic of Iran (Group B), Vietnam (Group C), Thailand (Group D), Philippines (Group E), Chinese Taipei (Group F) and India (Group G) will now join the five highest seeded teams - DPR Korea, Japan, Australia, China PR and Korea Republic in Round 2 which will be divided into three groups. 
 
Four teams - the three group winners and the best-ranked runners-up - will then progress to Round 3 to play two pairs of home and away matches with the eventual winners qualifying for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024.