ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Phoenix rise to the top; Top two stumble in Thailand

Mon, 25 Dec, 2023

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Phoenix rise to the top; Top two stumble in Thailand

Kuala Lumpur: Wellington Phoenix enjoy a three-point lead at the top of the standings in Australia after a 2-0 victory against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday while Melbourne Victory, in second place, played out a goalless draw with Melbourne City in the Melbourne derby. 

Frontrunners Bangkok United were saved by a 93rd-minute goal from Willen as they played out a 1-1 draw with Police Tero in Thailand on Sunday, but chasing BG Pathum United failed to capitalise as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Nakhon Pathom United. 
 
Shan United finished their season unbeaten for the second time running in Myanmar while matches also took place in Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Chinese Taipei, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from ASEAN and East Asia.

Player to Watch: Chanathip Songkrasin (Thailand)

Sat, 23 Dec, 2023

Player to Watch: Chanathip Songkrasin (Thailand)

Kuala Lumpur: After a fine AFC Asian Cup™ 2019 campaign where he guided his nation to the knockout stages of the competition for the first time in 47 years, Chanathip Songkrasin will be keen to create more history with Thailand as the continental showpiece returns.

Thailand made a shaky start to the tournament four years ago with a 4-1 defeat to India leading to the departure of head coach Milovan Rajevac, but Chanathip scored in a 1-0 win against Bahrain in their second outing before a 1-1 draw with hosts United Arab Emirates sent them through. 
 
Finding themselves in a group featuring Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyz Republic and Oman this time around, the Southeast Asian nation, managed by Masatada Ishii, will need the 30-year-old attacking midfielder to deliver the goods again if they want to make a mark at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™. 

Test Your Knowledge - Round 11

Fri, 22 Dec, 2023

Test Your Knowledge - Round 11

Kuala Lumpur: Round 11 of the AFC Asian Cup™ quiz has another set of interesting questions about the continent's premier national team tournament.

Try it out to see how well versed you - the fans - are ahead of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ which kicks off on January 12.

Join the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Match Predictor now and stand to win exclusive prizes

Fri, 22 Dec, 2023

Join the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Match Predictor now and stand to win exclusive prizes

Kuala Lumpur: With just three weeks to go to Asia’s grandest ever showpiece, passionate fans from across the globe can now share their predictions for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ by playing the Match Predictor game on the-AFC.com or the AFC LIVE app for a chance to win exclusive prizes. 

The game allows fans to enter their predictions for all 51 AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ matches and change their predictions up until the kick-off of each match. For each prediction, fans will accumulate points based on how accurate their predictions are in terms of the outcome of the match and the first team to score (during the Knockout Stage).

Thrilling battle lines to be drawn for AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Knockout Stage

Thu, 28 Dec, 2023

Thrilling battle lines to be drawn for AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 Knockout Stage

Kuala Lumpur: The excitement levels surrounding the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 will ratchet up another notch when the Knockout Stage encounters are revealed next Thursday, December 28 at 16:00 (UTC+8).

Of the 40 teams that contested the 21st edition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s flagship club competition when it kicked off in September 2023, 16 sides have come through the Group Stage to take their places ahead of the official draw ceremony at the AFC House.
 
Eight teams each from the West Region and East Region – five Group winners and the three best runners-up – will discover their path to the Final, starting with the eight two-legged Round of 16 ties in February 2024.

AFC Cup™ 2023/24 contenders set for Knockout Stage Draw

Thu, 21 Dec, 2023

AFC Cup™ 2023/24 contenders set for Knockout Stage Draw

Kuala Lumpur: The path to ultimate glory in the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 will be laid out on Thursday, December 28 at 14:00 (UTC+8) when the official draw ceremony for the Knockout Stage takes place at the AFC House.

Eleven teams have progressed from the Group Stage of the 19th edition of the iconic tournament, which kicked off in September and featured 36 teams from across the Confederation’s five Zones.