Preview - PS2: Al Gharafa ( QAT) vs Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Tue, 13 Aug, 2024

Preview - PS2: Al Gharafa ( QAT) vs Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Al Khor: United Arab Emirates’s Shabab Al Ahli will take to the pitch full of confidence when they meet Qatar’s Al Gharafa in an AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Preliminary Stage 2 tie at the Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday.

Shabab Al Ahli booked their spot after coming from behind to overwhelm Islamic Republic of Iran’s Sepahan 4-1 in their Preliminary Stage 1 encounter and will have a spring in their step for the showdown against Al Gharafa. 

The sides crossed paths twice in the AFC Champions League™, having settled for a 1-1 stalemate in 2015 with Shabab Al Ahli walking away with a huge 8-2 win in the 2019 edition.

Preview - PS2: Shandong Taishan FC (CHN) vs Bangkok United (THA)

Tue, 13 Aug, 2024

Preview - PS2: Shandong Taishan FC (CHN) vs Bangkok United (THA)

Jinan: Shandong Taishan of China PR will be aiming to make home advantage count when they take on Thailand’s Bangkok United in their AFC Champions League Elite™ 2024/25 Preliminary Stage 2 tie on Tuesday.

At stake will be a place in the group stage of the inaugural season of Asia’s top tier club competition, with the sides having made a big impression in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24.

Thrilling #ACLElite League Stage showdowns to be revealed

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

Thrilling #ACLElite League Stage showdowns to be revealed

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian club game will mark another pivotal milestone when the cast for the groundbreaking AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) 2024/25 season assembles for the official League Stage draw ceremony on Friday, August 16 at 5pm.

To be held at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur, the event will reveal highly anticipated battles between Asia’s best 24 clubs for the maiden edition of the revamped men’s Continental club competition.

#ACLTwo contenders to discover Group Stage fate

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

#ACLTwo contenders to discover Group Stage fate

Kuala Lumpur: The path to glory for 32 of the Continent’s top clubs in the AFC Champions League Two™ (ACL Two) 2024/25 campaign will be revealed at the official Group Stage draw ceremony on Friday, August 16 at 3pm at the InterContinental Kuala Lumpur.

Featuring the greatest number of teams in any of the Asian Football Confederation’s club competitions, the new second-tier men’s tournament will comprise eight groups – four West, four East – of four teams each for the Group Stage, which will be played in a home-and-away round-robin format from September 17 to December 5.

Preview - PS1: FC Abdysh-Ata Kant (KGZ) vs Attack FC (AFG)

Tue, 13 Aug, 2024

Preview - PS1: FC Abdysh-Ata Kant (KGZ) vs Attack FC (AFG)

Jalal-Abad: FC Abdysh-Ata Kant of Kyrgyz Republic are seeking another extended run on the continental stage but know Afghanistan’s Attack FC will be no pushovers in their AFC Challenge League™ (ACGL) 2024/25 Preliminary Stage 1 match on Tuesday.

Abdysh-Ata were a revelation in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 where they reached the Inter-Zone Final before losing to eventual champions Central Coast Mariners and will expect to reach the  AFC Challenge League group stage.

Preview - PS1: Church Boys United (NEP) vs Paro FC (BHU)

Mon, 12 Aug, 2024

Preview - PS1: Church Boys United (NEP) vs Paro FC (BHU)

Kathmandu: Church Boys United of Nepal and Bhutan’s Paro FC will face off for a place in the AFC Challenge League™ group stage at the Dashrath Stadium on Tuesday.

With a place in the next round at stake, Church Boys will be looking to capitalise on home advantage, while Paro will draw inspiration from their past experiences of playing in the AFC Cup™.

Paro FC have had their fair share of continental football, having featured in the AFC Cup three times. Although they did not reach the group stage, the four-time Bhutan Premier League champions will be eager to make a strong impression in the AFC Challenge League. 

Yokoyama seals Birmingham move, JDT get Undabarrena and Israfilov

Mon, 12 Aug, 2024

Yokoyama seals Birmingham move, JDT get Undabarrena and Israfilov

Birmingham: Japanese forward Ayumu Yokoyama has signed for English Championship outfit Birmingham City on a three-year contract.

The 21-year-old had a fruitful season with Sagan Tosu in the J-League 1 2024 season where he played all but one of their 25 matches, notching five goals and three assists.

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Technical Report available now!

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Technical Report available now!

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Technical Report is now available on the-AFC.com, offering a comprehensive analysis of the grandest-ever edition of the Continental showpiece that was held in Qatar from 12 January to 10 February 2024.

The publication provides a detailed account of the 18th edition of Asia’s crown jewel that witnessed a stunning 132 goals scored over 51 matches as Qatar successfully defended their title with a 3-1 win over Jordan at the iconic Lusail Stadium where a record 86,492 capacity crowd created a deafening atmosphere worthy of any Final. 

Stars of the AFC Cup

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024

Stars of the AFC Cup

Kuala Lumpur: The curtains have come down on a glorious era in Asian club football with the prestigious AFC Cup™ drawing to a conclusion at the end of last season with Asian club football set to embark on an exciting new journey.

Over the AFC Cup's two-decade-long history since launching in 2004, numerous players across the continent have shone brightly, providing unforgettable moments to savour for Asian football fans.

The-AFC.com selects 10 superstars who lit up the AFC Cup, making it one of the most enjoyable competitions in the Asian football calendar.