Qatar to gear up for World Cup with 2021 pan-Arab tournament

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Qatar to gear up for World Cup with 2021 pan-Arab tournament

Doha: Preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be supported by a pan-Arab invitational tournament to be held in late 2021.

The competition – which will feature 22 men’s national teams from Asia and Africa – will serve as the main test event for the global Finals, as revealed by FIFA following Thursday’s meeting of the FIFA Council.

The pan-Arab event will foreshadow the Qatar 2022 extravaganza in several ways, with teams to perform in World Cup stadiums, utilise World Cup training facilities, and play the tournament final on December 18, exactly one year before the 2022 decider.

Mirona - Bangladesh's pioneering female coach 

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Mirona - Bangladesh's pioneering female coach 

Dhaka: Not many Bangladeshis would quit a safe, public-sector job with perks and a pension to become a full-time football coach but Mirona, Bangladesh's first female coach at club level, has done just that.

And the 27-year-old, who comes from a humble background, has no regrets.

"I have always dreamt of being coach of a top team and one day even the national side," said Mirona, who stands barely 1.5 metres tall.

FIFA Council approves pan-Arab test tournament, extended international window in June 2021

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

FIFA Council approves pan-Arab test tournament, extended international window in June 2021

Zurich: The FIFA Council on Thursday gave its support for a "pan-Arab" invitational international competition in Qatar in 2021 which will test facilities to be used in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

In a statement, FIFA said the invitational competition for men's national teams will be contested by Arab nations from Africa and Asia.

It will involve home-based players only and be played outside the international match calendar. The tournament is scheduled for December 1-18, 2021.

It will be run by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the committee organising the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

"This will allow the organisers to use facilities and run operations that are also planned for the subsequent FIFA World Cup," FIFA said in a statement.

'Dream come true' as Women's World Cup heads Down Under

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

'Dream come true' as Women's World Cup heads Down Under

Wellington: Football lovers in Australia and New Zealand were in celebratory mood on Friday after the southern hemisphere neighbours won hosting rights for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The decision, announced by FIFA in what was the early hours of the morning in Australia and New Zealand, sparked emotional reactions among sleep-deprived players and fans.

Asia’s Greatest FIFA World Cup Goals – Semi-final 1

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Asia’s Greatest FIFA World Cup Goals – Semi-final 1

Kuala Lumpur: They are the goals that made entire nations roar. Every four years, the FIFA World Cup makes football the centrepiece of the world and ignites the hopes of millions of fans.

This June and July, the-AFC.com celebrates Asia’s contribution to the greatest show on earth by reliving 20 of the continent’s best FIFA World Cup goals.

5 of the Best: Volleys

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

5 of the Best: Volleys

Kuala Lumpur: There's nothing quite like seeing a sweetly struck volley fly into the back of the net, and this week the-AFC.com shines the '5 of the Best' spotlight on these aesthetically pleasing goals. 

We've previously looked at free-kicks, long-range efforts, solo brilliance and acrobatic stunners, and our latest compilation will not disappoint. So here's five volleys to recall some of the best and most dramatic 'no bounce' strikes the AFC Cup has seen.

Don't forget to vote for your favourite at the bottom of the article!

Vote for your best Asian team at the FIFA World Cup: Midfielders

Thu, 28 Oct, 2021

Vote for your best Asian team at the FIFA World Cup: Midfielders

Kuala Lumpur: As the-AFC.com continues its quest to find out who you, the fans, regard as the finest Asian players to have starred at the FIFA World Cup by compiling an all-time Best XI, we turn our attention to the midfield positions. 

Having discovered who you view as the the best goalkeeper and the ideal candidates for the backline, we now shine the spotlight on the more attacking positions, with a star-studded cast for you to choose from, including world-renowned performers such as Park, Nakata and Honda.

So, review the nominees and then choose your favourite for this all-star XI in the poll below.