AFC News

Asia at the FIFA Club World Cup

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Asia at the FIFA Club World Cup

Kuala Lumpur: Saudi Arabia is to follow in the footsteps of Japan, the UAE and Qatar in hosting the FIFA Club World Cup for the final edition of the competition in its current format, marking the 16th time the tournament has been held in Asia.

The two AFC representatives in Saudi Arabia 2023, Al Ittihad as the hosts and Urawa Red Diamonds as the reigning AFC Champions League™ winners, will be dreaming of bringing home the trophy for the first time in Asia’s history, but over the course of two decades, there have been some exceptional performances that saw clubs from the continent come close to winning the title.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/video/afccup_-_group_i_|_tainan_city_fc_tpe_4_-_2_cpk_mac.html

Group I: Tainan City FC (TPE) 4-2 Must CPK (MAC)

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Group I: Tainan City FC (TPE) 4-2 Must CPK (MAC)

Gaoxiong: Chinese Taipei’s Tainan City FC kept their hopes of qualifying for the AFC Cup™ 2023/24  Inter-Zone semi-finals alive with a 4-2 win over Macau’s Must CPK in their rescheduled Group I Matchday Two tie at the Nanzih Football Stadium on Sunday.

The win put Tainan City on nine points, with the two sides to meet again on Thursday. Taichung Futuro are leading the group on 12 points, with the Chinese Taipei side only needing a point from their final tie against FC Ulaanbaatar of Mongolia in their final game. 

Matchday Six: 5 things to look out for

Fri, 08 Dec, 2023

Matchday Six: 5 things to look out for

Kuala Lumpur: Just five places remain up for grabs in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 knockout rounds as the four remaining groups in the East get set to play their final round of fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Bangkok United, Kawasaki Frontale and Pohang Steelers have already won their respective groups, leaving top spot in the other two groups still to play for, while the three best-placed runners-up will also progress. 
 
Ahead of what is sure to be a gripping couple of days on the continent, the-AFC.com has selected five things to look out for. 

Jurcevic steps down as Lebanon head coach

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Jurcevic steps down as Lebanon head coach

Beirut: Nikola Jurcevic has stepped down as the Lebanon national team head coach “by mutual consent”, the Lebanese Football Federation said on Saturday.

The Croatian was appointed head coach two months ago with the task of taking Lebanon to the AFC Asian Cup™ Qatar 2023, with the West Asian side to open their Group A campaign against the host nation on January 12.

Player to Watch: Ali Al Hamadi (Iraq)

Sun, 10 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Ali Al Hamadi (Iraq)

Kuala Lumpur: Just two years after making his international debut, young Ali Al Hamadi has emerged as one of the most exciting Iraqi players in recent times, as the Lions of Mesopotamia prepare to compete at the AFC Asian Cup™ Qatar 2023.

Born in Maysan in the south of Iraq, Al Hamadi never played professional football in his country of birth. Instead, he came through the ranks at Tranmere Rovers and Swansea City, having emigrated to the UK with his parents from an early age.
 
Following a move to AFC Wimbledon in the third tier of English football, Al Hamadi grew into one of the most important players of his team, with eight goals in 17 games and a League Two September Player of The Month to his name already this season.

Test Your Knowledge - Round 9

Fri, 08 Dec, 2023

Test Your Knowledge - Round 9

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Asian Cup™ quiz is back 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 countdown for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ gathers pace. 

Six memorable Asian matches

Fri, 08 Dec, 2023

Six memorable Asian matches

Kuala Lumpur: Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds and Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad are set to represent Asia in the 20th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, a competition that has long provided some thrilling encounters for Asian teams over the years.

Ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 kicking-off on Tuesday, the-AFC.com takes a stroll down memory lane by exploring some of the finest matches involving Asian teams in the tournament's history.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_cup/video/afccup_|_preview_matchday_six.html

Player to Watch: Asnawi Mangkualam (Indonesia)

Sat, 09 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Asnawi Mangkualam (Indonesia)

Kuala Lumpur: Tenacious and physical with a desire to attack, Indonesia’s right-back Asnawi Mangkualam is a captain who leads by example in his efforts to drive his national team forward.

The 24-year-old possesses a determination that belies his youth and it is little wonder he is the first name on the team sheet for head coach Shin Tae-yong.
 
Football is in the blood of a player who represented his country consistently at youth level, with Indonesia’s Liga 1 outfit PSM Makassar central to his development.

Saudi Arabia 2023: Squads in Numbers

Sat, 09 Dec, 2023

Saudi Arabia 2023: Squads in Numbers

Jeddah: The FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 kicks off on Tuesday with Al Ittihad playing Auckland City in a first round clash.

As Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad and New Zealand's intensify their preparations, we take a look at the facts and figures from the final squads. 

Al Hilal maintain lead, Al Nassr bounce back

Sat, 09 Dec, 2023

Al Hilal maintain lead, Al Nassr bounce back

Al Matar: Al Hilal defeated Al Tai 2-1 to maintain their seven-point lead in the Saudi Pro League 2023/24 on Friday.

Al Nassr beat Al Riyadh 4-1 to stay second while defending champions Al Ittihad suffered another setback, going down 3-1 to Damac on Thursday.