Preview - SF: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) v Manchester City (ENG)

Mon, 18 Dec, 2023

Preview - SF: Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) v Manchester City (ENG)

Jeddah: Urawa Red Diamonds will dare to dream when they face Manchester City in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 on Tuesday.

The three-time AFC Champions League™ winners booked their semi-final spot with a hard-earned 1-0 second round win over Mexico's Club Leon and will take to the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium with a spring in their step despite the huge challenge European champions Manchester City will pose.
 
Urawa's progress to the semi-finals helped ease some of their pain after an underwhelming season where their AFC Champions League title defence ended in the group stage while they finished fourth in the J1 League. 

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Player to Watch: Arif Aiman (Malaysia)

Fri, 15 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Arif Aiman (Malaysia)

Kuala Lumpur: At the tender age of 21, exciting Malaysian winger Arif Aiman Hanapi is already establishing himself as one of the rising stars of Southeast Asian football.

He has been labelled a “genius” by his coach at Johor Darul Ta’zim, Esteban Solari, with his trickery on the right proving to be a devastating weapon for both club and country as he has shone domestically and on the international stage.

Test Your Knowledge - Round 10

Sun, 17 Dec, 2023

Test Your Knowledge - Round 10

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Asian Cup™ quiz turns its focus on to the players - past and present - with more challenging questions about the continent's premier national team tournament.

Try it out to see how well versed you - the fans - are as the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ rapidly approaches.

Muscat takes charge of Shanghai Port

Mon, 18 Dec, 2023

Muscat takes charge of Shanghai Port

Shanghai: Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port FC have announced the appointment of Kevin Muscat as their head coach.

The Australian takes over from Spaniard Javier Pereira, who led Shanghai Port to the 2023 CSL title. 

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Binh Duong go top; Bangkok extend lead

Mon, 18 Dec, 2023

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Binh Duong go top; Bangkok extend lead

Kuala Lumpur: Four-time champions Becamex Binh Duong emerged as the new leaders in Vietnam after defeating incumbents Nam Dinh 3-2 on Saturday to displace them from the top on goal difference, six rounds into the campaign.

In Thailand, BG Pathum United were held by Khon Kaen United and lost further ground on leaders Bangkok United who earned a last-gasp win against Trat FC to increase their advantage to four points with a game in hand. 
 
Borneo FC's 1-0 win against RANS Nusantara helped them strengthen their hold on the top spot in Indonesia while matches also took place in Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Myanmar, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from ASEAN and East Asia.

Central & South Asian Wrap: Sepahan close in on Esteghlal

Mon, 18 Dec, 2023

Central & South Asian Wrap: Sepahan close in on Esteghlal

Isfahan: Sepahan SC showed that they mean business after a solid win against Foolad enabled them to cut two points off Esteghlal FC’s lead in the Iran Pro League.

Over in Tajikistan, recently crowned champions FC Istiklol closed out their season with two wins while FC Arkadag’s search for perfection in the Turkmenistan Yokary Liga continues.

League action also took place in India and Maldives, so join the-AFC.com as we look back on a week of incredible action from Central and South Asia.