West Asia Wrap: Al Duhail take charge in Qatar; exciting race continues in UAE

Mon, 30 Jan, 2023

West Asia Wrap: Al Duhail take charge in Qatar; exciting race continues in UAE

Doha: Al Duhail SC are the new leaders in the Qatar Stars League following Al Arabi's defeat to Al Saad SC last week.

Leaders Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Sharjah played to a goalless stalemate in a top-of-the-table clash in the UAE Pro League. 
 
There was also action in Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine and Syria so join the-AFC.com as we review the latest round of domestic action across West Asia. 

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Persija move top; Buriram advance in League Cup

Mon, 30 Jan, 2023

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: Persija move top; Buriram advance in League Cup

Hong Kong: Bahrain forward Abdulla Yusuf Helal hit a purple patch as Persija Jakarta posted two hard-fought victories over PSM Makassar and Persikabo 1973 in the past week to emerge as the new leaders of Indonesia's Liga 1.

It was a productive week for Buriram United in Thailand as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Thai League Cup at the expense of Muangthong United on Wednesday before extending their lead in Thai League 1 to 11 points with a 2-0 win over Chonburi FC four days later. 
 
A-League leaders Melbourne City’s blip in form continued as they were held to a third consecutive draw by Adelaide United in Australia, while Lee Man FC and Kitchee SC remain tied at the top in Hong Kong and Hanoi FC completed the treble in Vietnam, so join the-AFC.com as we review the week’s action from across ASEAN and East Asia.

Central & South Asia Wrap: Sepahan on the rise; unstoppable Bashundhara Kings continue to cruise

Mon, 30 Jan, 2023

Central & South Asia Wrap: Sepahan on the rise; unstoppable Bashundhara Kings continue to cruise

Mumbai: Sepahan are closing in on Islamic Republic of Iran Pro League leaders Persepolis, while Bashundhara Kings made it seven consecutive wins in the Bangladesh Premier League. 

Mumbai City are still the top team in the Indian Super League, with the I-League equally as exciting with Sreenidi Deccan threatening RoundGlass Punjab.
 
Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the latest domestic action in Central and South Asia.

Arnold to remain as Australia head coach

Mon, 30 Jan, 2023

Arnold to remain as Australia head coach

Sydney: Graham Arnold will continue as Australia head coach after his contract with Football Australia was extended for another four years following the Socceroos’ success at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Arnold led the Australians into the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup for only the second time in the country’s history at last year’s Finals, where the Socceroos defeated Tunisia and Denmark in the group phase of the competition.

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.

The Club World Cup in Stats

Fri, 27 Jan, 2023

The Club World Cup in Stats

Tangier: The FIFA Club World Cup has never failed to thrill fans with high octane action and spectacular matches.

With the Morocco 2022 kick-off fast approaching, we take a look at the global showpiece's stats over the past 18 editions. 

Ighalo: Al Hilal can win the Club World Cup

Wed, 25 Jan, 2023

Ighalo: Al Hilal can win the Club World Cup

Riyadh: Odion Ighalo crashed to the Saint Petersburg turf, desolate. A Lionel Messi wonder goal had helped extinguish his FIFA World Cup dream.

Ighalo hadn’t even departed Krestovsky Stadium by the time he was obsessing over Qatar 2022. The Nigeria striker knew he’d be 33 at the time. He was desperate to be there.
 
And he was. Yet not in a capacity Ighalo could have ever imagined. The Lagos native was part of Nigeria squad that agonisingly lost on away goals to arch-rivals Ghana in a playoff for a place at the 22nd World Cup. Ighalo nevertheless travelled to Qatar to passionately support a country he had never even stepped foot in two years ago.
 
After a fruitful spell at Al Shabab, Ighalo crossed Riyadh to join Al Hilal in January 2021 – just days before they debuted in the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021. It was the start of a love affair between the player and the Saudi Arabian superpower.
 
FIFA+ caught up with Ighalo to discuss his goalscoring exploits, Al Hilal’s ambitious quest to beat the likes of Flamengo and Real Madrid to the Morocco 2022 trophy, the passion of his club’s fans, his admiration for Salem Al Dawsari, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe, and his Qatar 2022 experience.

Five Asian players who impressed at the FIFA Club World Cup

Wed, 25 Jan, 2023

Five Asian players who impressed at the FIFA Club World Cup

Dubai: The FIFA Club World Cup offers clubs from the across the world an opportunity to test their skills against the finest opponents from every continent, and over the years many an Asian player has left their mark in the competition.

With the next edition, where the continent will be represented by Al Hilal SFC in Morocco, fast approaching, the-AFC.com recalls five players who impressed in the competition.