Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Zhuhai: Macau entertain Sri Lanka in the first leg of the nations’ joint FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China PR 2023 qualifier on Thursday with both sides looking to secure progress beyond the first round for the first time in their history.
Macau will host the game at the Zhuhai Sports Center Stadium in neighbouring Zhuhai after maintenance works to the Estadio Campo Desportivo meant the Macanese were unable to play the match at their usual home stadium.
Despite that move, though, Macau will go into the game as marginal favourites given their higher status in the current FIFA Rankings – they are rated at 183rd in the world, 19 places above the Sri Lankans – and a stronger track record at this level.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/sri_lanka-squad.html
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Paris: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Member Associations confirmed on Tuesday China PR as the hosts for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 at the AFC Extraordinary Congress in Paris, France.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ulaanbaatar: Mongolian head coach Michael Weiss has urged his team not to underestimate Brunei Darussalam, who will be without nine regular players, when they meet in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 clash on Thursday.
Weiss, who was appointed by the Blue Wolves in 2017, is happy with his team’s preparations after a 10-day training camp in Phuket, Thailand but he will not take Brunei Darussalam lightly when they meet at the MFF Football Centre in the first leg despite the Southeast Asian team's head coach .
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: With Qatar and China PR as the ultimate destinations, the journey to reach two of the world's biggest football tournaments kicks off across six venues in Asia on Thursday and Friday.
At stake for the winners of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 is a place alongside 34 teams from Asia in the second round - where the likes of top-ranked Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, Australia and Saudi Arabia will all be in the fray.
The Asian sides will be chasing four confirmed berths to the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, with the possibility of an additional seat being won via a Continental Play-off.
For the AFC Asian Cup China PR 2023, 23 berths are available and the-AFC.com takes a look at the Round One match-ups of the Asian Qualifiers.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei Darussalam will be without nine players from clubside DPMM FC for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 clash against Mongolia on Thursday.
The nine players not part of the 23-member squad for the Asian Qualifiers are Abdul Mu’iz Sisa, Fakharazzi Hassan, Azwan Salleh, Azwan Ali Rahman, Hendra Idris, Azizi Ali Rahman, Najib Tarif, Shafie Effendy and Nurikhwan Othman.
Head coach Robbie Servais said he had planned on building the squad around the players from DPMM, who play in the Singapore Premier League and currently top the standings.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ulaanbaatar: In Mongolia, football’s popularity lags behind that of sumo wrestling and archery. But for the game to reach its full potential the country’s technical director Hatem Souissi believes progress to the second round of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup is essential.
Mongolia have never advanced beyond the first phase of qualifying for either tournament and take on Brunei Darussalam over two legs on Thursday and Tuesday hoping to notch up a victory that secures the country a place in the draw for Qatar 2022 and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
The winners will join the likes of Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia in the second phase and the prospect of facing one of the Continent’s giants, believes Souissi, will give the game a much-needed boost in the landlocked East Asian nation.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia warmed up for their impending FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers with a 2-0 victory over Nepal, while Uzbekistan were beaten by the same margin against Turkey, in friendly internationals played on Sunday.
MALAYSIA 2-0 NEPAL
Malaysia defeated Nepal 2-0 as the Southeast Asians enter the final phase of their preparations for the first round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar Qualifiers.
Malaysia, who will face regional rivals Timor-Leste in the first round of the Qualifiers, turned on the power in the second half with Safawi Rashid and Shahrul Saad finding the back of the net at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.