AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Technical Report now available

Thu, 08 Oct, 2026

AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Technical Report now available

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ Technical Report is now available on the-AFC.com, offering an in-depth review of a campaign that showcased the evolving standards of Asia’s premier club competition.

Marking the second edition of the revamped format, Al Ahli Saudi FC were crowned champions following a 1-0 extra-time victory against Japan’s FC Machida Zelvia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, becoming only the second team after Al Ittihad Club to successfully defend the title.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3193667

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Star-studded cast headlines AFC Elite Club Coaches Forum 2026

Fri, 25 Sep, 2026

Star-studded cast headlines AFC Elite Club Coaches Forum 2026

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) conducted the 11th AFC Elite Club Coaches Forum 2026 on Wednesday, bringing together technical staff from across Asia’s leading clubs to examine the latest trends shaping club football.

Chaired by AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh, the online forum featured an illustrious line-up, including Al Nassr FC head coach Ange Postecoglou, former England manager Roy Hodgson and former Shabab Al Ahli head coach Paulo Sousa.

Saudi Arabia joins AFC Elite Youth Scheme as newest three-star member

Tue, 06 Oct, 2026

Saudi Arabia joins AFC Elite Youth Scheme as newest three-star member

Riyadh: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has become the latest Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Member Association (MA) to be endorsed as a three-star member of the AFC Elite Youth Scheme.

Alongside the SAFF’s endorsement, the Confederation also bestowed a two-star recognition on the Al Qadsiah Club Academy.

AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Technical Report available now

Mon, 28 Sep, 2026

AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Technical Report available now

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ Technical Report is now available on the-AFC.com, offering an in-depth look back at all the key moments from the tournament’s 21st edition.

Held from May 5 to 22, the competition saw Japan clinch their record fifth title in an unforgettable Final against China PR, with the young Samurai Blue leading the cast of the eight Asian teams who will feature in the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year.

AFC Youth Panel meeting advances plans for youth development

Thu, 17 Sep, 2026

AFC Youth Panel meeting advances plans for youth development

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Youth Panel Meeting for the 2026-27 term took place on Tuesday to explore avenues to turn the potential of youth footballers in Asia into sustained and professional progress.

Chaired by AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh, the high-level platform follows the recent AFC Grassroots Panel and AFC Coach Education Panel meetings, which took place earlier this month.

AFC Elite Youth Scheme adds Chinese Football Association to three-star membership

Thu, 09 Jul, 2026

AFC Elite Youth Scheme adds Chinese Football Association to three-star membership

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has welcomed the Chinese Football Association (CFA) as the latest three-star member of its acclaimed AFC Elite Youth Scheme.

Endorsed at two-star status in October 2024, the CFA received the upgrade to the highest category following a comprehensive evaluation last month, which also awarded three-star membership to the Shandong Luneng Taishan Football School, Shanghai Shenhua FC Academy and Zhejiang FC Academy – making them the first club academies in China PR to reach this tier.