West Asia Wrap: Muharraq stay in front; winning start for Shabab Al Ahli

Tue, 20 Dec, 2022

West Asia Wrap: Muharraq stay in front; winning start for Shabab Al Ahli

Doha: Muharraq Club continue to set the pace in the Bahraini Premier League while the jostle for top spot continues in the Iraqi Premier League. 

The past week also saw the resumption of several domestic leagues, including the Kuwait Premier League, Saudi Pro League and the UAE Pro League. The Qatar Stars League and the UAE Pro League will restart this week following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. 

Join the-AFC.com as we dive into the past week’s action across West Asia.

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: New leaders in Indonesia; Title race going down to the wire in China PR

Mon, 19 Dec, 2022

ASEAN & East Asia Wrap: New leaders in Indonesia; Title race going down to the wire in China PR

Hong Kong: There are new leaders in Indonesia as Borneo FC beat reigning champions Bali United 3-1 on Thursday to rise to the top of a table that now sees just one point separating the top four sides. 

The engrossing Chinese Super League title race between Wuhan Three Towns and Shandong Taishan is heading for a nail-biting conclusion as the two sides posted wins to stay within three points of each other with only a few rounds left to play. 
 
Second-placed Western Sydney Wanderers and third-placed Adelaide United suffered defeats to Western United and Wellington Phoenix respectively in Australia while BC Rangers moved to the semi-finals of the Hong Kong FA Cup by edging Wofoo Tai Po 1-0, so join the-AFC.com as we review this week’s action from across ASEAN and East Asia. 

Central & South Asia Wrap: Mumbai City stay ahead in India; Merw, Kopetdag brace for showdown

Tue, 20 Dec, 2022

Central & South Asia Wrap: Mumbai City stay ahead in India; Merw, Kopetdag brace for showdown

Kuala Lumpur: Mumbai City remain unbeaten in the Indian Super League after cruising past East Bengal, while Merw and Kopetdag are aiming to sign off with wins in the Turkmenistan Yokary Liga.

Join the-AFC.com as we dive into the past week’s league action in Central and South Asia.

Asian Highs at Qatar 2022

Tue, 20 Dec, 2022

Asian Highs at Qatar 2022

Doha: The dust is settling on an exceptional FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and Asia can look back at the tournament with much pride as teams from the continent produced some of the most stunning results in their history. 

Four years ago at Russia 2018, Asia recorded its highest points tally in a FIFA World Cup and that feat was topped in Qatar as, for the very first time, three teams representing the Asian Football Confederation made it to the knockout stages.
 
Australia, Japan and Korea Republic were the nations who scripted history with their Round of 16 appearances, but the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, who hosted a truly superb FIFA World Cup, all had tournaments which they can look back on with fond memories. 
 
With Argentina’s triumph over France in a thrilling finale at Lusail Stadium on Sunday bringing the curtain down on a competition that will live long in the memory, the-AFC.com looks back at some of Asia’s best moments from Qatar 2022 as the FIFA World Cup visited the continent for only the second time. 

Preview: Vietnam favourites but challengers lurk

Tue, 20 Dec, 2022

Preview: Vietnam favourites but challengers lurk

Kuala Lumpur: Vietnam are the overwhelming favourites to win the 2022 AFF Cup in what will be the final tournament for long-serving head coach Park Hang-seo.

The two-time winners will be desperate to send their Korean mentor off on a high by savouring regional honours once again following their previous triumphs in 2008 and 2018.

With 10 nations fighting to be crowned champions of the 2022 AFF Cup, the-AFC.com takes a look at the contenders ahead of the tournament kicking off on Tuesday.

Scaloni tells fans to enjoy amazing victory

Mon, 19 Dec, 2022

Scaloni tells fans to enjoy amazing victory

Lusail: Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni, who masterminded the South Americans' penalty shoot-out victory over France in Sunday's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final, called on his compatriots to enjoy the glory.

"It hasn't yet sunk in but this is a moment to enjoy, especially the people," Scaloni told the official FIFA World Cup media channel in Doha.

"We who live by this have had ups and downs, we're used to these things happening to us, taking blows," he added after the remarkable topsy turvy final in the Lusail stadium.

Deschamps rues 'cruel' defeat

Mon, 19 Dec, 2022

Deschamps rues 'cruel' defeat

Lusail: France head coach Didier Deschamps said the way his team lost Sunday's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final against Argentina was "cruel" after they came from behind twice over the course of the game only to succumb in a penalty shoot-out.

"We were not as good in the first 60 minutes against top-quality opponents who had a lot more energy, but we came back from nowhere and turned the game around from a very difficult situation. That leaves us with even more regrets," said Deschamps after France failed in their bid to become the first team in 60 years to retain the trophy.