Group E: Hong Kong, China 2-4 IR Iran

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024

Group E: Hong Kong, China 2-4 IR Iran

Hong Kong: Islamic Republic of Iran survived a stiff test from Hong Kong, China to walk away with a 4-2 win in their Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Group E tie on Thursday.

Mehdi Taremi led by example with a hat-trick as IR Iran stayed unbeaten, moving to 13 points with a match against Uzbekistan to come on Tuesday that will decide the group winners.

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3031703.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3031706.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3031710.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/3031714.html

Round 2 - MD5: Results & Reports

Fri, 07 Jun, 2024

Round 2 - MD5: Results & Reports

Kuala Lumpur: Palestine were the history makers as Matchday Five of the Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ concluded on Thursday.

A goalless draw with Lebanon saw Palestine booking their spot in the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time as well as confirming a fourth consecutive appearance at the AFC Asian Cup Finals.

Also through to the next stage were Korea Republic as a 7-0 defeat of Singapore meant they are well on course for an 11th consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup Finals.

The-AFC.com recaps how Matchday Five unfolded, with 13 of the 18 FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers third round spots filled.

Colombia 2024 groups finalised

Wed, 05 Jun, 2024

Colombia 2024 groups finalised

Bogota: Asia's hopefuls discovered their opponents following the draw for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 in Bogota, Colombia on Wednesday.

With the tournament expanded to 24 teams from 16 previously, the teams were drawn into six groups for the August 31-September 22 global showpiece.

Korea Republic fall again to the United States

Wed, 05 Jun, 2024

Korea Republic fall again to the United States

Minnesota: Korea Republic suffered a second straight loss to the United States  after they went down 3-0 in an international friendly on Wednesday.

Having lost the first encounter 4-0 on Saturday, Colin Bell’s side were undone in successive games by goals from Crystal Dunn, Sophia Smith and Lily Yohannes.

Europe Wrap: Asia’s stars continue to rack up silverware overseas

Tue, 04 Jun, 2024

Europe Wrap: Asia’s stars continue to rack up silverware overseas

Kuala Lumpur: The 2023/24 season was another trophy-laden campaign for Asian stars in Europe – from Hinata Miyazawa winning a historic Women’s FA Cup in England to Lee Kang-in winning a double with Paris Saint-Germain in France and Koki Machida hitting the winner in the Belgian Cup final to end a 110-year wait for Union SG. 

Japanese duo Moeka Minami and Saki Kumagai completed the double in Italy with AS Roma while Thailand's Suphanat Mueanta and Nepal's Sabitra Bhandari created history by becoming the first from their countries to score in the Belgian and French leagues respectively. 

It was also a time for goodbyes as Makoto Hasebe, one of the stalwarts of Asian football, hung up his boots after a 14-year stay in Germany's Bundesliga while Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi lifted the cup in his last game for FC Porto, so join the-AFC.com as we review how Asian stars performed across Europe this season.