AFC Asian Cup News

AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ stadium in Chengdu marks its debut

Tue, 11 Jan, 2022

AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ stadium in Chengdu marks its debut

Chengdu: The Chengdu Phoenix Hill Stadium, one of the 10 venues of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™, was successfully unveiled during the final of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) Cup 2021, which saw Shandong Taishan defeat Shanghai Port 1-0 to claim the coveted domestic crown on Sunday. 

The thrilling final marked a significant milestone for the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™, which will be aiming to hosts all the matches of Asia’s premier men’s national team competition in football specific stadiums. 

The 2015 AFC Asian Cup Remembered

Mon, 10 Jan, 2022

The 2015 AFC Asian Cup Remembered

Kuala Lumpur: It has been seven years since the AFC Asian Cup travelled down under for the first time, with Australia welcoming Asia a decade after joining the AFC, and it was by all measures a historic tournament.

Five venues across the cities of Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Newcastle and Sydney hosted the games with the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium hosting the opening match and Stadium Australia in Sydney hosting the final.

Remembering the 2011 AFC Asian Cup

Sat, 08 Jan, 2022

Remembering the 2011 AFC Asian Cup

Kuala Lumpur: January 7th marks 11 years since the 2011 AFC Asian Cup kicked off in the Qatari capital Doha. A tournament that concluded 22 days later with Japan picking up a record fourth continental title.

Hosted in five stadiums, two of which are set to host games in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the-AFC.com takes a stroll down memory lane for one of the most exciting editions in AFC Asian Cup history.

Four years after the unique experience of hosting the 2007 AFC Asian Cup in four countries for the first time in the competition’s history, eyes turned to the west of the continent with Qatar playing hosts to Asia’s top national teams’ competition for the second time in their history after 1988.

Iraq arrived in Doha as reigning champions, while Saudi Arabia and Japan were eager to establish advantage in the race to dominate the continent, having won three AFC Asian Cup titles each. And while there were no debutants, the 2011 edition saw the return of India for the first time since 1984, DPR Korea for the first time since 1992 and Syria who had been absent since 1996.

Tan steps down as Malaysia head coach

Mon, 03 Jan, 2022

Tan steps down as Malaysia head coach

Kuala Lumpur: Tan Cheng Hoe has relinquished his position as head coach of the Malaysian national team.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) said in a media release that Tan's decision was prompted by the team's recent 2020 AFF Cup campaign.

Tatsuma Yoshida steps down as Singapore national team coach

Tue, 28 Dec, 2021

Tatsuma Yoshida steps down as Singapore national team coach

Singapore: The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced on Tuesday that Maya Yoshida, by mutual agreement, will step down as head coach of the Lions on December 31 in order to return home to Japan and be with his family during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 47-year old Yoshida leaves after 30 months in charge, having just guided Singapore to the 2020 AFF Cup semi-finals..

Jorn Andersen takes charge of Hong Kong

Sat, 18 Dec, 2021

Jorn Andersen takes charge of Hong Kong

Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Football Association confirmed on Saturday that Norwegian Jorn Andersen has taken over as head coach of the territory’s men’s representative team.

Andersen replaces Mixu Paatelainen at the helm and will lead Hong Kong into next year’s qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/video/afc_president_speech_for_asian_cup_2023_logo_launch.html

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/video/afc_asian_cup_china_2023™_logo_launched_in_glittering_opening_ceremony.html

https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/video/afc_asian_cup_china_2023_-_meet_the_host_cities.html

AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Logo launched in glittering opening ceremony

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Logo launched in glittering opening ceremony

Shanghai: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ today marked a significant milestone with the tournament’s logo launch, which was staged and held in conjunction with the opening ceremony of the competition’s first completed stadium – the Shanghai Pudong Football Stadium.

The dazzling and immersive display showcased the vibrant new logo unveiled through projection mapping and Augmented Reality for the first time in the tournament’s history. 

The new logo was launched by Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sports of China and Executive Chairman of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ LOC, H.E. Du Zhaocai, who is also a FIFA Council member, together with the main leaders from the 10 host cities, who also revealed the Host City logos in the first on-ground milestone event of the tournament, which will be held from June 16 to July 16, 2023. 

AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round to be played in centralised venues

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round to be played in centralised venues

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round will be converted from the conventional home and away format to single round robin ties to be played in centralised venues.

The decision was taken by the AFC Executive Committee after taking into consideration the existing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, while prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all stakeholders in the lead-up to the Finals of Asia’s premier men’s national team tournament, which will be held in China PR from June 16 to July 16, 2023.
 
It was agreed that the three Match Days would be held on June 8, 11 and 14, 2022, with the AFC opening in due course the bidding process to all Participating Member Associations to express their interest in hosting the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round.
 
Similar to the bidding process of all centralised AFC Competitions in 2021, a wide range of requirements have been put in place to ensure adherence to the highest health and safety protocols and standards.
 
These include minimum travel and quarantine restrictions for all participating teams, convenience of flight connections to the host country, the medical situation in the host country, sufficient venues to organise the matches and most importantly, mandatory COVID-19 test to be organised for all players and officials upon arrival and during the duration of the competition under the guidance of the AFC’s Infection Control Officers.
 
The new match schedule may be amended where necessary pursuant to relevant provisions of the competition regulations. 
 
Following the conclusion of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Qualifiers Play-off stage earlier this month, Indonesia and Cambodia sealed the final two spots in the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round after 22 teams clinched their places in June’s Preliminary Joint Qualifiers Round 2. 

Cambodia overcome Guam to seal final slot in Qualifiers

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Cambodia overcome Guam to seal final slot in Qualifiers

Manama: Cambodia bounced back from a goal down to beat Guam 2-1 in the second leg of their playoff tie to advance to the final round of the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Qualifiers with a 3-1 aggregate win on Tuesday.

Guam took the lead through Devan Mendiola in the first half, but a tenacious Cambodian side came back stronger after the break with goals from Sos Suhana and substitute Keo Sokpheng securing the win.

Guam kicked off the match on the attacking foot as they sought to reverse their 1-0 first leg defeat and were successful in containing the Southeast Asians within their own half in the opening minutes.

Guam had their first sight on goal in the 10th minute when Jason Cunliffe collected Jonahan Romero’s long-range pass, but his run was cut short by the Cambodian defence, before Devan Mendiola failed to convert the loose ball from inside the box.