AFC Asian Cup News

Aleksandar Ilic appointed Lebanon head coach

Fri, 05 Aug, 2022

Aleksandar Ilic appointed Lebanon head coach

Beirut: The Lebanese Football Association have appointed Serbia's Aleksandar Ilic to lead the men's national team on a three-year contract.

The 53-year-old, who arrives in Beirut next week, replaces CzechIvan Hasek who took charge of The Cedars in 2021 and helped Lebanon reach the Final Round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™ and qualify for the AFC Asian Cup™ 2023.

2007 AFC Asian Cup™: Iraq's amazing triumph revisited

Fri, 29 Jul, 2022

2007 AFC Asian Cup™: Iraq's amazing triumph revisited

Kuala Lumpur: Fifteen years ago today Iraq completed one of the most memorable feats in Asian football history as the Jorvan Vieira-coached Lions of Mesopotamia lifted the 2007 AFC Asian Cup™. Despite troubles at home, Younis Mahmoud and his teammates claimed a remarkable success that unified a nation and which still resonates around the world.

When Mahmoud soared high in the Jakarta night air to score the goal that downed Saudi Arabia to deliver Iraq their first-ever AFC Asian Cup title, it secured much more than the famous old trophy. 

Four Expressions of Interest received to host AFC Asian Cup 2023™

Mon, 18 Jul, 2022

Four Expressions of Interest received to host AFC Asian Cup 2023™

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has received Expressions of Interest (EoI) from four AFC Member Associations (MAs) to host the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ final competition.

Following the AFC's invitation to all MAs to express their interest in hosting the flagship men's national team tournament on May 31, 2022, the following AFC MAs have responded by the extended deadline of July 15, 2022, and expressed their interest to bid for the hosting rights of the AFC Asian Cup 2023™:

AFC extends AFC Asian Cup 2023™ EoI deadline to July 15, 2022

Tue, 28 Jun, 2022

AFC extends AFC Asian Cup 2023™ EoI deadline to July 15, 2022

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has extended the deadline to receive Expressions of Interest (EoI) from the AFC Member Associations (MAs) to host the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ from the original date of June 30, 2022, to July 15, 2022.

The AFC had issued an EOI invitation to the AFC MAs to host the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ on May 31, 2022. This followed China PR’s decision to withdraw as hosts of the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ and the consequent mandate provided to the AFC Administration by the 32nd AFC Congress 2022 to define the terms and requirements of an expedited bidding process to find a replacement host for the competition.

Know Your #AsianCup2023 Teams!

Thu, 16 Jun, 2022

Know Your #AsianCup2023 Teams!

Kuala Lumpur: The 24 teams for the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ have been confirmed following the conclusion of the Final Round of  Qualifiers on Tuesday.

Eleven teams booked their tickets from the six qualifying groups that were played in Bishkek, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait City, Namangan and Ulaanbaatar.

They join the 13 teams who had already sealed their places following the conclusion of the second round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™ in June, 2021.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the cast of the AFC Asian Cup 2023. 

Beating Kuwait paved the way for Indonesia, says Shin

Wed, 15 Jun, 2022

Beating Kuwait paved the way for Indonesia, says Shin

Kuwait City: Indonesia’s bright start to the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers Group A was key to sealing their return to the competition for the first time since 2007, according to head coach Shin Tae-yong.

Team Garuda stunned Kuwait 2-1 in the opening match, a result that eventually proved the difference as they finished three points ahead of the hosts to seal one of the five best runners-up spots and qualify alongside group winners Jordan.

Qualification was confirmed on the final matchday with a 7-0 triumph over Nepal to help Indonesia pip Group B runners-up the Philippines to the final spot in the Continental showpiece. 

Learning curve can only benefit Thailand, says Polking

Wed, 15 Jun, 2022

Learning curve can only benefit Thailand, says Polking

Namangan: Head coach Alexandre Polking wants Thailand to learn from their 2-0 defeat to Uzbekistan in their final AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers Group C fixture on Tuesday.

Jaloliddin Masharipov and Azizbek Turgunbaye were on target for Uzbekistan, who topped the group with nine points, while Thailand - with two victories - also advanced to the Continental Finals as one of the five best runners-up.

Šegrt hails Tajikistan for securing historic spot

Wed, 15 Jun, 2022

Šegrt hails Tajikistan for securing historic spot

Bishkek: A delighted Petar Šegrt paid tribute to his Tajikistan players and staff after the Central Asian nation clinched their first ever AFC Asian Cup™ qualification on Tuesday.

After results elsewhere in Asia had made their position safe, the Tajiks played out a goalless draw against a Kyrgyz Republic side roared on by 17,340 fans at Dolen Omurazkov, sending both teams through to next year’s Finals.
 
For Tajikistan, that represents the end of a wait stretching back to 1996, where they missed out on that year’s AFC Asian Cup after throwing away a four-goal aggregate lead in a two-match playoff against Uzbekistan.

Sayem credits strong Group B start after Palestine seal berth

Wed, 15 Jun, 2022

Sayem credits strong Group B start after Palestine seal berth

Ulaanbaatar: Tamer Seyam said that it was a tough opening-day win over Mongolia in the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round that laid the foundations for Palestine’s qualification to the continental competition after Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over the Philippines confirmed top spot in Group B.

Palestine went into their Matchday Three encounter against the Southeast Asians needing just a point to secure their ticket to a third successive AFC Asian Cup™ and goals from Saleh Chihadeh and Seyam had them two up at the interval before Mohammed Yamin and Mahmoud Abuwarda added further goals after the restart.

Stimac: India lived up to expectations

Wed, 15 Jun, 2022

Stimac: India lived up to expectations

Kolkata: Igor Stimac hailed his team’s continually improving performances throughout the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round
as India closed out Group D with a 4-0 win over Hong Kong in Kolkata on Tuesday that sealed top spot and a berth at the Finals.

Anwar Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Glan Martins and Ishan Pandita were all on target as the hosts claimed a third consecutive victory to finish on top of the standings with maximum points ahead of Hong Kong as both teams secured tickets for the Finals.

Kim dedicates qualification to Malaysian fans, Bahrain's Sousa already planning for Finals

Wed, 15 Jun, 2022

Kim dedicates qualification to Malaysian fans, Bahrain's Sousa already planning for Finals

Kuala Lumpur: Head coach Kim Pan Gon congratulated his players and dedicated Malaysia's AFC Asian Cup 2023™ qualification to the team's fans.

Malaysia went into their Matchday Three AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Qualifiers Final Round Group E tie against Bangladesh on Tuesday knowing a win would confirm their first appearance in the Continental showpiece since 2007 and promptly cruised to a 4-1 win.

The victory also meant Malaysia qualified for the AFC Asian Cup on merit for the first time since the 1980 edition and Kim was proud that his team had delivered.

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ cast finalised

Wed, 15 Jun, 2022

AFC Asian Cup 2023™ cast finalised

Kuala Lumpur: The cast for the AFC Asian Cup 2023™ Finals was confirmed following the conclusion of the Final Round of Qualifiers on Tuesday.

Eleven teams booked their tickets from the six qualifying groups that were played in Bishkek, Kolkata, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait City, Namangan and Ulaanbaatar, with Tajikistan creating history by confirming their first appearance in the Continental showpiece.

The 11 qualifiers join the 13 teams who had already booked their places after the second round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers - Road to Qatar™ in June, 2021.