AFC and PhinDeli sign sponsorship rights deal

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC and PhinDeli sign sponsorship rights deal

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today announced its partnership with PhinDeli, a leading instant coffee brand in Vietnam, for the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™ from 2021 to 2022.

By sponsoring the competition, PhinDeli will capitalise on the enthusiasm, which is poised to reach an all-time high in the country, following the Vietnam men’s national team’s historic qualification for the highly anticipated final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers and its upcoming campaign to secure a spot in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar: Players to watch in Group A

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar: Players to watch in Group A

Kuala Lumpur: Twelve teams will start their AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar campaign on Thursday for four automatic spots to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Asia's elite national teams booked their spots in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar after a gruelling and mentally taxing second round heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at players who can change the outcome of matches for their teams in Group A.

AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar: Players to watch in Group B

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar: Players to watch in Group B

Kuala Lumpur: Twelve teams will start their AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar campaign on Thursday for four automatic spots to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Asia's elite national teams booked their spots in the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar after a gruelling and mentally taxing second round heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at players who can change the outcome of matches for their teams in Group B.

AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar: In Numbers

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar: In Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: Ahead of the start of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight on some of the key statistics involving the participating sides.  

There will be 12 teams competing for four direct tickets to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and we present some of the key facts and figures that give further colour and context to the campaigns that are set to play out on the Road to Qatar.

Lebanon's Melki brothers eye FIFA World Cup breakthrough

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Lebanon's Melki brothers eye FIFA World Cup breakthrough

Dubai: Over the years, the world of football has witnessed a number of brotherly pairings performing on the same pitch, even with their national teams at FIFA World Cup Finals.

This was the case during the ‘Miracle of Bern’ in 1954, in which Fritz and Ottmar Walter represented the victorious Germans, and at the World Cup in 1966, where the Charlton siblings made a substantial contribution to England’s victory. Other international appearances by footballing brothers include the De Boers (Netherlands), the Laudrups (Denmark), the Ayews (Ghana) and the Hazards, who both competed for Belgium at Russia 2018.

A few months after that World Cup, Swedish-born brothers Robert and Felix Melki enjoyed a moment they had dreamed about their entire lives, when they played alongside each other in an international match, having received a call-up from the Lebanese Football Federation for a friendly against Uzbekistan.

Syria's Mahrous ready for second chance at FIFA World Cup qualification

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Syria's Mahrous ready for second chance at FIFA World Cup qualification

Tehran: Nizar Mahrous was only 22 when he played in the Asian Qualifiers for the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico. He helped Syria reach the final stage of that preliminary competition only for a 3-1 defeat to Iraq in their final match to squash their dream of a debut appearance at the global Finals.

Today, more than 35 years on, Mahrous is back with the Qasioun Eagles, having been appointed national team coach prior to the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar. Ahead lies an opportunity to make up for that disappointment all those years ago and fulfil the nation’s long-awaited dream of reaching the big stage.

Que: All Vietnamese are dreaming of the FIFA World Cup

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Que: All Vietnamese are dreaming of the FIFA World Cup

Riyadh: Vietnamese eyes will be on their opening game against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Thursday as the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 kicks off. It will be the sides’ third meeting on the qualifying scene, but marks Vietnam's first-ever appearance at this decisive stage.

Indeed, the Southeast Asians had long been the pushovers in Asian qualifying, having invariably suffered early exits over the past two decades.

Under Korea Republic's Park Hang-seo, however, the Golden Star Warriors have emerged a different side in this campaign, powering through the second round from a group which also featured United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.