Fluminense end Al Hilal's run

Sun, 06 Jul, 2025

Fluminense end Al Hilal's run

Orlando: Substitute Hercules struck a 70th-minute winner as Brazil's Fluminense defeated Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal SFC 2-1 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

A fine left-foot finish from Matheus Martinelli had put the Rio club ahead in the 40th minute but Al Hilal's Brazilian forward Marcos Leonardo levelled six minutes into the second half before Hercules stole the show to the delight of the vast majority of the 43,091 crowd.
 
Rio club Fluminense will meet Chelsea in the semi-final after the Premier League side edged Palmeiras 2-1 in their quarter-final.

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Qualifiers - Preview: MD5

Fri, 04 Jul, 2025

Qualifiers - Preview: MD5

Kuala Lumpur: An additional six spots will be filled on Matchday Five of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers on Saturday.

Bangladesh booked a historic ticket to the Finals by assuring themselves the Group C top spot with a match to spare, joining the already qualified China PR, Japan, Korea Republic and hosts Australia at next year's showpiece.

Saturday's action promises to be intense and as we gear up for a fiesta of football, the-AFC.com takes a look at how the groups stand.

We always believed we could do it, says Bangladesh’s Khandaker

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

We always believed we could do it, says Bangladesh’s Khandaker

Yangon: Bangladesh will join the elite of women’s football in Asia after achieving a historic first by reaching the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ thanks to a 2-1 win against Myanmar on Wednesday.

The 2-2 draw between Turkmenistan and Bahrain confirmed the South Asian side’s spot in the Finals with a match to spare.

Afeida Khandaker and her teammates had to dig deep in the final minutes at Thuwunna Stadium after Myanmar pulled a goal back, with the skipper drawing strength from a small but loud Bangladeshi support at the stadium.

Kulbyte focused on Nepal

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

Kulbyte focused on Nepal

Tashkent: Uzbekistan head coach Kotryna Kulbyte praised her team’s commanding 7-0 victory against Laos in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers Group F match on Wednesday.

The result keeps Uzbekistan firmly in contention, as they sit level on points with Nepal ahead of their decisive group game on Saturday.

Nirmala relishing Thailand test after breaking goalscoring duck

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

Nirmala relishing Thailand test after breaking goalscoring duck

Chiang Mai: Nirmala Devi was all smiles after scoring her first international goal, helping India cruise to a 5-0 win over Iraq in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers Group B tie on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old defender netted India’s fourth in the 54th minute, firing home a long-range effort to mark a memorable outing in just her sixth appearance for the Blue Tigresses.

#AWCL Preliminary Stage draw finalised

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

#AWCL Preliminary Stage draw finalised

Kuala Lumpur: The hopefuls learnt their journey to glory following the conclusion of the AFC Women’s Champions League™ 2025/26 Preliminary Stage draw at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday.

The 19 teams who entered for the Preliminary Stage were divided into five groups — four groups of four and one group of three — to do battle in a centralised league format between August 23 to 31, with only the five group winners advancing to the Group Stage.

 

They will join the teams from the top seven MAs in the AFC Women’s Club Competition Ranking 2024/25, namely Melbourne City FC (AUS), Suwon FC Women (KOR), Tokyo Verdy Beleza (JPN), holders Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC (CHN), Ho Chi Minh City Women’s FC (VIE), Bam Khatoon FC (IRN) and a to-be-determined side from the United Arab Emirates, to form a 12-strong cast.

Ki joins Pohang

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

Ki joins Pohang

Seoul: Pohang Steelers have announced the signing of former Korea Republic international midfielder Ki Sung-yueng on a free transfer on Thursday ahead of the K League 1 club’s involvement in the AFC Champions League Two™ 2025/26.

Ki was released by FC Seoul last week, ending his second stint with the capital-based club having rejoined in 2020 following spells in Scotland, England and Spain.

Matildas' defender Carpenter leaves Lyon for Chelsea

Thu, 03 Jul, 2025

Matildas' defender Carpenter leaves Lyon for Chelsea

Lyon: Australia's right-back Ellie Carpenter has left Lyon to join Chelsea, the English champions announced on Wednesday.

Carpenter, who has agreed a four-year contract, will be reunited with head coach Sonia Bompastor, who took charge of Lyon in 2021 before guiding Chelsea to a treble-winning season in her first campaign last year.

 

Carpenter moved to Lyon in 2020 and in the five years since has won two Champions Leagues, four French championships and the French Cup.