New head coaches take charge

Tue, 19 Mar, 2024

New head coaches take charge

Kuala Lumpur: There will be several new head coaches in the dugouts when the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ resumes on Thursday.

As many as 10 teams were led by different coaches when the first two matchdays were played last November.

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Joint Preliminary Qualification - How the groups stand

Mon, 18 Mar, 2024

Joint Preliminary Qualification - How the groups stand

Kuala Lumpur: The Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ returns on Thursday after a four-month break with everything to play for.

The nine group winners and the respective runners-up will advance to the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying, and at the same time seal their places at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
 
The other 18 teams from Round 2 will proceed directly to the third and final round of AFC Asian Cup qualifying. 
 
The-AFC.com brings you up to speed with how the groups stand ahead of Thursday's Matchday Three. 

Katanec: Uzbekistan capable of challenging Asia’s best

Fri, 15 Mar, 2024

Katanec: Uzbekistan capable of challenging Asia’s best

Tashkent: Uzbekistan are aiming to carry their momentum from the recent AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ into the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

The Central Asian side advanced to the quarter-finals at Qatar 2023 before losing on penalties to the hosts. 

Head coach Srecko Katanec, in a recent interview with the-AFC.com, said he is looking forward to the Qualifiers with Uzbekistan to play a double-header against Hong Kong, China with the Slovenian having called up 20 of the 26 players from the AFC Asian Cup squad. 

Europe Wrap: Ito wins it for Reims; Fowler fuels City’s title push

Tue, 19 Mar, 2024

Europe Wrap: Ito wins it for Reims; Fowler fuels City’s title push

Kuala Lumpur: Junya Ito came up with a late winner as Reims defeated Metz 2-1 on Saturday while Lee Kang-in also produced a stunning goal in defending champions Paris Saint-Germain’s 6-2 win against Montpellier on Sunday as they inched closer to a third consecutive league title in France. 

Mary Fowler was influential for Manchester City in the Women’s Super League as the Matildas star scored and provided an assist to defeat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-1, while Iraq's Ali Al Hamadi struck a brace for promotion-chasing Ipswich Town in the English second tier. 
 
Hwang In-beom contributed a goal and assist for Red Star Belgrade in Serbia, Iranian striker Ali Alipour was on target in Portugal and Yuito Suzuki bagged a hat-trick in Denmark, so join the-AFC.com as we find out how the Asian stars performed in Europe over the past week. 

#U20WAC - Facts & Figures

Sun, 17 Mar, 2024

#U20WAC - Facts & Figures

Tashkent: The curtains came down on the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup™ Uzbekistan 2024 on Saturday with DPR Korea emerging champions after a 2-1 win over Japan in the final.

It was, by all means, a spectacular tournament and the-AFC.com takes a look at some of the facts and figures that caught the eye.