Sakai: Vissel Kobe's aim is to be Asia's best

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Sakai: Vissel Kobe's aim is to be Asia's best

Kobe: Vissel Kobe defender Gotoku Sakai is targeting a winning start to the club’s AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 campaign on Wednesday when the reigning J1 League titleholders face off against Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port FC.

Kobe return for their fourth attempt at claiming the continental title since making their debut in the competition in 2020, when an Andres Iniesta-inspired side reached the semi-finals in Doha.
 
That performance remains a high point for the Takayuki Yoshida-coached outfit, who won their second J1 League title in a row last season and who will be aiming to advance to the knockout rounds once again.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-r16-2nd-leg-gwangju-fc-kor-3-0-vissel-kobe-jpn

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Predict and Win Exclusive Prizes with the Launch of the #ACLElite 2025/26 Match Predictor

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Predict and Win Exclusive Prizes with the Launch of the #ACLElite 2025/26 Match Predictor

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian football scene is preparing for another captivating season, as the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 kicks off on September 15, 2025. To celebrate this occasion, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched the official Match Predictor game on the-AFC.com and the AFC LIVE app, providing fans worldwide with the opportunity to win exclusive prizes

The game is free to play and available on the-afc.com/aclelite_predictor and through the AFC LIVE App on iOS and Android. 

#ACLElite set for League Stage battles

Wed, 03 Sep, 2025

#ACLElite set for League Stage battles

Kuala Lumpur: The Continent’s finest sides will convene to kick off the League Stage of the AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) 2025/26 on September 15 as the quest for glory begins for the new season.

Al Ahli Saudi FC will be out to retain the trophy that they won for the first time just over four months ago, and are one of five former winners in the 24-strong cast. A total of 11 teams return from the 2024/25 campaign for the 23rd edition of Asia’s top-tier men’s club tournament under the ACL banner, which also features three Continental debutants: Korea Republic’s Gangwon FC, Japan’s FC Machida Zelvia, and China PR’s Chengdu Rongcheng FC.

Dates, venues for first match-ups confirmed

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Dates, venues for first match-ups confirmed

Zurich: FIFA has confirmed the dates and venues for the first two matches of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025, the global club competition which allows the champions of all six confederations to compete on the world stage on an annual basis.

In 2025, as was the case in 2024, the tournament operates under an updated format – in which clubs playing in the opening phase will compete for the FIFA African-Asian-Pacific Cup on home soil; giving those teams the chance to play in a FIFA competition in front of local fans.

Postecoglou takes charge of Nottingham Forest

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Postecoglou takes charge of Nottingham Forest

London: Nottingham Forest appointed Ange Postecoglou as manager on Tuesday to replace Nuno Espirito Santo.

Nuno led Forest to European qualification for the first time in 30 years last season by finishing seventh in the Premier League.

But he became the first Premier League manager to lose his job this season after publicly stating that his relationship with Greek billionaire club owner Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated.

Saudi Arabia 2026 cast finalised

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Saudi Arabia 2026 cast finalised

Kuala Lumpur: The stage is set for the AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2026 following the conclusion of the Qualifiers on Tuesday.

Fifteen teams - the 11 group winners and four best runners-up overall - booked their tickets to join hosts and 2022 champions Saudi Arabia at the Finals, scheduled for January 7 to 25, 2026.

The cast includes all five previous winners of the continental showpiece with Kyrgyz Republic and Lebanon set to make their debuts at the Finals.