Stage set for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Qualifiers draw

Wed, 05 Jul, 2023

Stage set for FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Qualifiers draw

Kuala Lumpur: All eyes will be on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday, July 27, 2023 for the official draw ceremonies of the Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 and Round 2 of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at 2pm and 4pm respectively.

As many as 45 Member Associations (MAs) are expected to discover their road to the 23rd FIFA World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States. This is the third time that the first two rounds of Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup will also serve as the Qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup™.  

AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions

Sat, 01 Jul, 2023

AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Competitions Committee approved today at their first meeting for the 2023 to 2027 term several key decisions related to national teams’ football as well as the club competitions in view of the strategic reforms which will be implemented from the 2024/25 season.

Led by Chairperson Dr. Tran Quoc Tuan, the Committee, which met in Bangkok, Thailand on the eve of the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Thailand 2023 Final between Korea Republic and Japan, deliberated on the participation of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association (NMIFA) in the upcoming qualifying campaign of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™. 

AFC Referees Committee reiterates ambitions to develop world-class AFC match officials

Wed, 05 Jul, 2023

AFC Referees Committee reiterates ambitions to develop world-class AFC match officials

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s commitment to ensure the world-class standards of Asian refereeing was reinforced today at the first meeting of the AFC Referees Committee for the term 2023-2027.

Led by Chairperson Hany Taleb B S Al-Raeesi, the Committee approved the establishment of the AFC Elite Video Match Officials Panel, which will be tasked to ensure that the AFC’s Video Match Officials (VMOs) are evaluated through a more stringent and precise process prior to their appointments to the AFC competitions.

India edge Kuwait on penalties to secure ninth title

Wed, 05 Jul, 2023

India edge Kuwait on penalties to secure ninth title

Bengaluru: India defeated Kuwait 5-4 on penalties to lift the 2023 SAFF Championship title at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Tuesday.

The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes with Kuwait having taken the lead in the 14th minute through Shabib Al Khaldi with India equalising seven minutes before the break through Lallianzuala Chhangte.

With both teams tied 4-4 after five spot-kicks each, Mahesh Naorem scored the first sudden-death penalty with goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu then saving Khaled Hajiah's effort to secure a record extending ninth title for India. 

Asia’s pathway to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup™ 2027 confirmed

Mon, 01 Aug, 2022

Asia’s pathway to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup™ 2027 confirmed

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee has approved the qualification format for Asia’s Road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 as well as the AFC Asian Cup™ 2027 in preparation of the eight direct spots and single Intercontinental Playoff slot allocated to the AFC by FIFA following the expansion of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to 48 teams. 

The new qualification format has been established after several consultation and dialogue sessions with the AFC Member Associations (MAs), briefings with the AFC Competitions Committee, as well as the Confederation’s key stakeholders.