ACL Homepage

Latest News

#U17WAC - In Numbers

Tue, 19 May, 2026

#U17WAC - In Numbers

Suzhou: The AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ came to a close in spectacular fashion on Sunday with DPR Korea retaining the trophy they won two years ago.

The 5-1 win against Japan cemented DPR Korea’s place as the best performing side in the history of the competition. As the tournament draws its curtain, the-AFC.com takes a look at the numbers that defined this latest edition

#AFCU17 - Preview - S-final: China PR v Australia

Mon, 18 May, 2026

#AFCU17 - Preview - S-final: China PR v Australia

Jeddah: China PR and Australia will spare no effort in their bid to continue their impressive runs when they meet in the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ semi-finals at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on Tuesday.

Both teams are highly confident following strong quarter-final performances, setting up what promises to be a high-intensity and closely fought encounter.

#AFCU17 - Preview - S-final: Japan v Uzbekistan

Mon, 18 May, 2026

#AFCU17 - Preview - S-final: Japan v Uzbekistan

Jeddah:  It will be a clash between familiar foes when Japan take on Uzbekistan in the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026™ semi-finals at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on Tuesday.

Both sides are in excellent form - setting up a compelling contest for a place in the final.

#AFCU17 - Zhou, Kutleshi looking forward to showdown

Mon, 18 May, 2026

#AFCU17 - Zhou, Kutleshi looking forward to showdown

Jeddah: China PR’s Zhou Yunuo and Australia’s Besian Kutleshi have vowed to give their all when their sides meet in the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ semi-finals on Tuesday.

Both defenders said their teams are fully focused on delivering a strong performance in what promises to be a tightly contested encounter.

#AFCU17 - Motosuna, Khakimov equally confident of advancing

Mon, 18 May, 2026

#AFCU17 - Motosuna, Khakimov equally confident of advancing

Jeddah: Japan’s Anthony Motosuna and Mukhammad Khakimov of Uzbekistan will be key figures when their sides meet in the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026™ semi-finals  on Tuesday.

Having shown their quality in the run-up to the penultimate stage, both players are aiming to reach the final under different motivations and ambitions.

#U17WAC - DPR Korea’s Ji, Yu dedicate win to fans

Mon, 18 May, 2026

#U17WAC - DPR Korea’s Ji, Yu dedicate win to fans

Suzhou: Head coach Ji Yun Nam and star forward Yu Jong Hyang expressed their delight after DPR Korea produced an emphatic 5-1 win against Japan in the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ final on Sunday.

Yu’s brace gave the defending champions a 2-0 lead with Japan pulling a goal back through Yumi Hayashi but there was never any moment that Ji felt that the momentum of the game shifted.

#U17WAC - Japan’s Shirai earmarks areas for improvement

Mon, 18 May, 2026

#U17WAC - Japan’s Shirai earmarks areas for improvement

Suzhou: Sadayoshi Shirai cut a forlorn figure after Japan were defeated 5-1 by DPR Korea in the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ final on Sunday.

The head coach was disappointed that his side couldn’t cope with the waves of pressure inflicted on them and even though Yumi Hayashi pulled a goal back to make it 2-1, the opportunity to make a comeback was quickly snuffed out.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u17_asian_cup.html/video/afcu17-preview-semi-finals

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u17_womens_asian_cup.html/video/u17wac-final-dpr-korea-5-1-japan

#U17WAC - DPR Korea’s Yu takes MVP, Top Goalscorer awards

Sun, 17 May, 2026

#U17WAC - DPR Korea’s Yu takes MVP, Top Goalscorer awards

Suzhou: DPR Korea’s Yu Jong Hyang deservingly held aloft the Most Valuable Player and Top Goalscorer awards after displaying her immense potential at the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™.

With 15 goals, Yu was the runaway winner as Asia witnessed the rise of her prodigious talent.

#U17WAC - DPR Korea’s Kim scoops Best Goalkeeper award

Sun, 17 May, 2026

#U17WAC - DPR Korea’s Kim scoops Best Goalkeeper award

Suzhou: Kim Son Gyong was named the Best Goalkeeper of the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ following DPR Korea’s 5-1 triumph against Japan in the final on Sunday.

The 172cm tall custodian was at her best in the decider at Suzhou Sports Centre Stadium, producing heroics to ensure the title stayed with the East Asian side.

#U17WAC - DPR Korea power to record fifth title

Sun, 17 May, 2026

#U17WAC - DPR Korea power to record fifth title

Suzhou: DPR Korea were at their customary best as they defeated Japan 5-1 to lift the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026™ trophy at Suzhou Sports Centre Stadium on Sunday.

Yu Jong Hyang scored four times to take her tournament tally to 15 goals, with Kim Won Sim adding the other to render Yumi Hayashi’s effort immaterial as DPR Korea moved past Japan to land a record-setting fifth title.

ACL Latest Photos

Year in Review: AFC Champions League™ 2023/24

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024

Year in Review: AFC Champions League™ 2023/24

Kuala Lumpur: Al Ain FC of the United Arab Emirates won the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 in stunning fashion, defeating Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos in a thrilling final played over two legs.

With the AFC's club competitions transitioning to a new format from the 2024/25 season, it was only fitting that the inaugural winners brought the curtains down on the AFC Champions League by waltzing their way to a second title.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl2_|_group_h_dynamic_herb_cebu_fc_phi_0-6_jeonbuk_hyundai_motors_fc_kor.html

#ACL Memories: Stunning Strikes

Thu, 29 Aug, 2024

#ACL Memories: Stunning Strikes

Kuala Lumpur: The long and illustrious AFC Champions League™ era has come to an end but the maiden campaign of the AFC Champions League Elite™ (ACL Elite) promises to open a new and exciting chapter in Asian football when it kicks off next month. 

Over the years, Asia’s top-tier club competition has produced plenty of breathtaking goals -- from sizzling bicycle kicks to absolute stunners from distance - so join the-AFC.com as we walk down memory lane to look at some of the best goals the AFC Champions League witnessed during its run. 

Stars of the AFC Champions League™

Fri, 16 Aug, 2024

Stars of the AFC Champions League™

Kuala Lumpur: The thrilling AFC Champions League era has come to a conclusion as, after 22 years of top-class Asian club football, the tournament has been revamped to AFC Champions League Elite™ in the upcoming season.

From household domestic names to international stars, the competition has been lit up by a number of players who provided memories to cherish for lovers of Asian football.

Spanning East Asia to West Asia, the-AFC.com selects 10 of the biggest superstars the competition has witnessed in its illustrious history.

Vote for your #ACL 2023-24 Magic Moment

Mon, 03 Jun, 2024

Vote for your #ACL 2023-24 Magic Moment

Kuala Lumpur: The final edition of the AFC Champions League™ in its current format came to a conclusion on May 25 when Al Ain defeated Yokohama F. Marinos in the second leg of this season’s final. 

It has been a season like no other with global superstars debuting in the continental competition which as usual delivered outstanding moments over the course of the season. 

After the conclusion of another thrilling edition, the-AFC.com picks the Magic Moments and asks you, the fans, to cast your vote for the favourite. 

#ACL 2023/24: The Stats Leaders

Thu, 30 May, 2024

#ACL 2023/24: The Stats Leaders

Kuala Lumpur: After Al Ain FC’s victory over Yokohama F. Marinos in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 final brought to a close the last edition of the tournament in its current format, the-AFC.com takes an in-depth look at the numbers and players that excelled during the campaign.

There were many exceptional performers in another memorable chapter of Asia's top-tier club competition as we analyse the stats to assess some of the key categories and those who stood out.

#ACL Final, 2nd Leg: What They Said

Wed, 29 May, 2024

#ACL Final, 2nd Leg: What They Said

Kuala Lumpur: With a comprehensive 5-1 win in Al Ain on Saturday, Al Ain FC overcame Yokohama F. Marinos 6-3 on aggregate to claim the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 trophy.

The Japanese side had a narrow advantage following a 2-1 triumph in Yokohama, but a sensational second leg performance in Al Ain meant the inaugural winners of the AFC Champions League lifted their second title after a 21-year wait.

As the 2023/24 edition concludes, the-AFC.com reviews what some of those involved had to say about the competition’s finale.

#ACL Final: 2nd Leg in Numbers

Tue, 28 May, 2024

#ACL Final: 2nd Leg in Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: The curtain came down on the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 on Saturday as Al Ain FC were crowned kings of Asia following a 5-1 second-leg victory over Yokohama F. Marinos that saw them run out 6-3 winners on aggregate.

The final also brought to a close the competition in its current format as Asian club football heads into an exciting new era next season with the launch of the AFC Champions League Elite™ and the AFC Champions League 2™.

As continental club football takes a break until the new tournaments begin, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the stats and facts from the second leg of the final.

Vote for your #ACL NEOM Future Star

Mon, 27 May, 2024

Vote for your #ACL NEOM Future Star

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 delivered in spectacular fashion following the conclusion of a campaign that started back on 15 August 2023 and drew the curtain with the climax in Al Ain on 25 May 2024. 

After Al Ain’s win over Yokohama F. Marinos in the final, the-AFC.com now looks to the future and the younger generation of stars that have risen to prominence during the tournament by asking you, the fans, to select the NEOM Future Star of the 2023/24 edition. 

We’ve selected six nominees who have made their career breakthroughs at the AFC Champions League 2023/24 so study through the candidates and vote for your favourite NEOM Future Star at the foot of the article. 

Crespo: Al Ain's triumph due to self belief

Sun, 26 May, 2024

Crespo: Al Ain's triumph due to self belief

Al Ain: His players gatecrashed the post-match press conference to honour him but as far as Hernan Crespo was concerned, Saturday's AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 triumph was the result of a collective effort.

The side from the United Arab Emirates were simply unstoppable as Crespo's players did exactly what he had promised they would - turn the pressure on in front of their adoring fans.

The end result was an emphatic 5-1 win at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, with Al Ain triumphing 6-3 on aggregate to lift the trophy for a second time after having waited for 21 years.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_final_2nd_leg_|_al_ain_fc_uae_5_-1_yokohama_f_marinos_jpn.html

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/photo/final_2nd_leg_al_ain_fc_uae_v_yokohama_f_marinos_jpn__1.html

ACL Videos

link old afc.com