LATEST NEWS - AIFF

Central & South Asia Wrap: Tantalising title decider in India

Mon, 15 Apr, 2024

Central & South Asia Wrap: Tantalising title decider in India

Mumbai: Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant set up a mouth-watering final day League Shield face-off to decide the winners of the Indian Super League. 

It remained neck and neck in the Iran Pro League with Esteghlal FC and Persepolis FC both picking up victories in the latest round of matches while in Turkmenistan, FK Arkadag continued their fine start to the season.
 
Join the-AFC.com as we recap the past week’s domestic league action from Central and South Asia.

Central & South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal lose ground as Persepolis close in

Mon, 08 Apr, 2024

Central & South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal lose ground as Persepolis close in

Tehran: League leaders Esteghlal dropped points but stayed top of the Iran Pro League, while Mumbai City FC maintained their lead over Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Indian Super League.

Elsewhere, there was no stopping Bashundhara Kings in Bangladesh while FK Andijan stayed top in Uzbekistan, so join the AFC.com as we recap the past week’s domestic league action from Central and South Asia.

Afif delighted with Qatar’s qualification; Westwood targets bigger things for Afghanistan

Wed, 27 Mar, 2024

Afif delighted with Qatar’s qualification; Westwood targets bigger things for Afghanistan

Kuwait City: Captain Akram Afif was proud to see Qatar pass a tough Kuwait test to secure a 2-1 win that clinched their spot in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Tuesday.

All three goals were scored in a space of four minutes late in the game with Almoez Ali’s double doing the trick for the reigning AFC Asian Cup champions, confirming them as Group A winners with two matches to spare.

Group A: India 1-2 Afghanistan

Tue, 26 Mar, 2024

Group A: India 1-2 Afghanistan

Guwahati: An inspired Afghanistan came from behind to beat India 2-1 in Group A of Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium on Tuesday.

Trailing to a Sunil Chhetri penalty at the interval, Afghanistan drew level through Rahmat Akbari in the 70th minute, with Sharif Mukhammad converting from the spot in the 88th minute for Afghanistan to take the win and draw level with India on four points. 

Preview - Group A: Kuwait v Qatar; India v Afghanistan

Mon, 25 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group A: Kuwait v Qatar; India v Afghanistan

Kuwait City: Kuwait stand in Qatar's way in their bid to confirm early progression when the two sides meet in Group A of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Tuesday.

India, meanwhile, will hope for a better outcome when they host Afghanistan following Thursday's draw. 

Qatar showed real quality in second half, says Lopez

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Qatar showed real quality in second half, says Lopez

Doha: Marquez Lopez was proud of Qatar's ability to increase their tempo in the 3-0 win over Kuwait in Group A of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ on Thursday.

After a goalless first half, Akram Afif scored twice and Ahmed Al Rawi the other as Qatar all but made sure of their place in the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and spot in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 with their third consecutive victory.

Group A: Afghanistan 0-0 India

Fri, 22 Mar, 2024

Group A: Afghanistan 0-0 India

Abha: Afghanistan and India played to a goalless draw in Group A of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at Damac Stadium on Thursday.

The result took India to four points from three matches, while for Afghanistan, this was their first point. The teams meet again in Guwahati on Tuesday.

Preview - Group A: Qatar v Kuwait; Afghanistan v India

Wed, 20 Mar, 2024

Preview - Group A: Qatar v Kuwait; Afghanistan v India

Kuala Lumpur: Qatar will be the team to beat when Group A of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ resumes on Thursday.

Fresh from successfully defending their AFC Asian Cup title on home soil last month, Marquez Lopez's side will start as favourites against Kuwait, with Afghanistan to play India in the other Group A tie.

Central & South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal keep Persepolis at bay; Mumbai City scale summit

Mon, 18 Mar, 2024

Central & South Asia Wrap: Esteghlal keep Persepolis at bay; Mumbai City scale summit

Tehran:  Esteghlal remain in pole position in the Iran Pro League, maintaining their three-point lead over Persepolis.

In the Indian Super League, Mumbai City went top and FC Goa earned a qualification into the playoffs, while Neftchi Fergana took charge of the Uzbekistan Super League. 

In Turkmenistan, FC Ashgabat closed in on leaders FC Ahal, so join the-AFC.com as we recap all the past week's action from Central and South Asia.

Job done but there is still work to do, says Mariners’ Jackson

Fri, 15 Mar, 2024

Job done but there is still work to do, says Mariners’ Jackson

Bhubaneswar: Moments after Central Coast Mariners sailed into the Inter-Zone final of the AFC Cup™ 2023-24 on Thursday, head coach Mark Jackson applauded his players for “getting the job done”.

Australian champions Mariners played to a goalless draw against India’s Odisha FC, which took them through 4-0 on aggregate for a date with Kyrgyz Republic side Abdysh-Ata Kant in the Inter-Zone final next month. 

Stalemate takes Mariners through to Inter-Zone final

Thu, 14 Mar, 2024

Stalemate takes Mariners through to Inter-Zone final

Bhubaneswar: Central Coast Mariners confirmed their place in the Inter-Zone final of the  AFC Cup™ 2023-24 on Thursday as Mark Jackson’s side drew 0-0 with Odisha FC in Kalinga Stadium to complete a 4-0 aggregate win over the Indian Super League outfit.

Mikael Doka missed a first half penalty for the A-League side but it mattered little as the Australians had gone into the second leg with a comfortable 4-0 cushion from the first leg in Gosford last week.
 
Mariners will face Abdysh-Ata Kant from Kyrgyz Republic in the Inter-Zone final next month after Islam Ahmedov’s team completed their win over Taichung Futuro from Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.
 
The first leg of the Inter-Zone final will be held in Bishkek on April 17 with the return in Gosford one week later.

Preview - Inter-Zone SF 2nd Leg: Odisha FC (IND) 0 v 4 Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Thu, 14 Mar, 2024

Preview - Inter-Zone SF 2nd Leg: Odisha FC (IND) 0 v 4 Central Coast Mariners (AUS)

Bhubaneswar: Odisha FC still believe despite facing a four-goal deficit going into their AFC Cup™ 2023/24 Inter-Zone semi-final second leg on Thursday.

Central Coast Mariners were at their best in last week's first leg but Odisha will be counting on home ground advantage to turn things around.