Sanchez's focus on Honduras as Qatar look to seal Gold Cup quarter-final spot

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Sanchez's focus on Honduras as Qatar look to seal Gold Cup quarter-final spot

Houston: Felix Sanchez is set to field his best players for Qatar's final 2021 Gold Cup Group D tie against Honduras on Tuesday.

Qatar - who are on four points - will advance to the quarter-finals should they avoid defeat against already qualified Honduras but Sanchez is aiming for his side to finish as group winners. Panama can pip Qatar on goal difference if they defeat Grenada in their final group tie and the reigning AFC Asian Cup holders lose.

Topping the group will mean facing Group A runners-up El Salvador in the next round and avoiding tournament favourites Mexico.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Saudi Arabia determined to impress on long awaited return

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Saudi Arabia determined to impress on long awaited return

Tokyo: A quarter of a century since their first and only appearance in men’s football at the Olympic Games, Saudi Arabia are hopeful of leaving their mark in the Japanese capital.

The Green Falcons were the first Group D side to arrive in Japan following a week-long training camp in the Romanian capital Bucharest.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: AFC U23 Champions Korea Republic aiming for more glory in Japan

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: AFC U23 Champions Korea Republic aiming for more glory in Japan

Tokyo: 2020 AFC U-23 Championship winners Korea Republic are set to appear in their ninth consecutive Summer Olympics and could be on course to repeat their medal-winning heroics from 2012.

Korea Republic have always put a major focus on the football competition at the Olympic Games and with this year's tournament being so close to home, there is no doubt that Kim Hak-bum's men will be highly motivated to shine at Tokyo 2020.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Japan primed to end long wait for podium finish

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Japan primed to end long wait for podium finish

Tokyo: Japan aim to put an end to their medal drought with an ensemble of youth and experience for their highest finish at their home Olympics in Tokyo.

Hajime Moriyasu is confident of glory on home soil ahead of Tokyo 2020, with the 53-year-old tactician having chosen the players who will give Japan the best chance of achieving success that has eluded them since the heights of 1968.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Australia's Olyroos out to shock the world

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Australia's Olyroos out to shock the world

Tokyo: After a 13-year absence Australia are back on the men’s Olympics football stage, now they’re out to become the Tokyo Games’ greatest surprise package.

Having battled travel restrictions, squad upheaval and a dearth of chances to get on to the same pitch, the Olyroos find themselves in arguably the toughest group in the competition, but Graham Arnold’s men have no shortage of belief.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: The time is now as Japan's Nadeshiko prepare to bloom

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: The time is now as Japan's Nadeshiko prepare to bloom

Tokyo: A global powerhouse of the women’s game in the first half of the 2010s, Japan’s rebuild has often been focused on performing at their home Olympics in Tokyo. Now it’s time to deliver.

In the third of our Asian team previews ahead of the football action at this summer’s games, the-AFC.com runs the rule over Asian champions Japan, whose squad combines big-stage experience with outstanding young talent.

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Youthful China PR aim to spring major surprise

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Tokyo Olympics – Preview: Youthful China PR aim to spring major surprise

Tokyo: Every one of the 11,000 athletes converging on Japan for these most unique of Olympic Games will have overcome some form of adversity, but few will have travelled a road to Tokyo as challenging as the one navigated by the Chinese women’s national team.

In the second of our pre-Olympic previews, join the-AFC.com as we run the rule over Jia Xiuquan’s side who, having performed minor miracles to reach Tokyo 2020, will be determined to challenge a pair of heavyweights in Group G.