The 2019-20 season is proving that magic of the cup is still alive and kicking. From Saudi Arabia to Qatar, UAE to IR Iran, smaller teams have made deep runs into the competition and remain in contention for silverware when the knock-out competitions resume.

Core training, improvised backyard circuits and the increasingly popular #StayAtHome juggling challenge are making sure the stars of the show will be ready to shine once more when football makes its eagerly awaited return.

Fill up your protein shaker and join the-AFC,com as we examine how, in ways we couldn’t have expected, football’s coming home.

Central Asia is a region with a proud footballing past, and the extended outlook appears equally bright with several talented youngsters emerging in recent years.

Join the the-AFC.com as we profile seven youngsters from Asian football’s Central Zone who look poised for long and successful careers in the game.

Goals from Zufar Akbaraliev and Ilkhomjon Baratov proved decisive for Istaravshan, who appear poised for a competitive campaign when the 2020 Tajik League campaign begins next month.

Istaravshan’s title is their first trophy since lifting the second tier Tajikistan First League title in 2018, and comes less than three years after their promotion from regional football.

For the first edition, we look at six different clubs from across the breadth of the Asian Football Confederation and explore the meaning behind their unique team nicknames.

After featuring fabulous free-kicks, long-range stunners and individual brilliance, this week's edition takes in one of our most popular categories: acrobatic goals. Athletic, exciting and often jaw-dropping, enjoy these magnificent efforts and then select your favourite by voting at the bottom of the article.

From ending years of hurt to record-breaking crowds and dramatic late qualification, our inaugural selection features a trio of matches that live long in the memory.