Inzaghi hails 'extraordinary' Al Hilal after City upset

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Inzaghi hails 'extraordinary' Al Hilal after City upset

Orlando: Al Hilal SFC head coach Simone Inzaghi hailed his "extraordinary" team after Monday's stunning 4-3, extra-time win over Premier League giants Manchester City at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

The match finished 2-2 at full-time but at the end of an eventful extra-time Marcos Leonardo grabbed the winner and pulled off one of the greatest wins.
 
Al Hilal will face Fluminense in Orlando on Friday in the quarter-finals.

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Leonardo stars as Al Hilal shock Manchester City

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Leonardo stars as Al Hilal shock Manchester City

Orlando: Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal SFC sent English giants Manchester City crashing out of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on Monday, snatching a shock 4-3 victory in extra time in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.

The match finished 2-2 at full-time but at the end of an eventful extra-time, Marcos Leonardo grabbed the winner and pulled off one of the biggest wins in West Asian football history.

The Riyadh-based side advanced to the quarter-finals where they will face Brazilian club Fluminense, ensuring a non-European team will reach the last four.

Fluminense stun Inter to book last eight berth

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Fluminense stun Inter to book last eight berth

Charlotte: Fluminense sent Inter Milan packing from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 on Monday with a 2-0 win that took the Brazilian side through to the quarter-finals.

German Cano's header from close range gave Fluminense an early lead and they then withstood an onslaught from the Italian side in the second half before substitute Hercules sealed their victory late on.

The Rio de Janeiro outfit, who qualified for the Club World Cup thanks to their Copa Libertadores triumph in 2023 will now go to Orlando for a tie on Friday against either Manchester City or Al Hilal SFC.

Bayern march on at Flamengo's expense

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Bayern march on at Flamengo's expense

Miami Gardens: Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern Munich overcame determined resistance from Flamengo to book their place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-finals with an entertaining 4-2 victory on Sunday.

Vincent Kompany's side will now play European champions Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta on Saturday for a place in the last four.

Flamengo, backed by a huge and passionate following at Hard Rock Stadium, bow out of the tournament despite a performance of real determination from Filipe Luis's team.

PSG rout Inter Miami to reach quarters

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

PSG rout Inter Miami to reach quarters

Atlanta: Paris Saint-Germain steamrollered Lionel Messi's Inter Miami 4-0 to reach the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-finals on Sunday.

Miami hoped the Argentine superstar's magic could help them produce an unlikely result against his former side, but the Major League Soccer side were dismantled in Atlanta by Luis Enrique's rampant European champions.

 

Ageing great Messi and his former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba had done well to reach the last 16 but the gulf in quality between the teams was laid bare over the 90 minutes.

Chelsea overcome weather chaos to advance

Sun, 29 Jun, 2025

Chelsea overcome weather chaos to advance

Charlotte: Chelsea defeated Benfica 4-1 in extra time in a weather-disrupted last-16 clash to book their place in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-finals on Saturday.

Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all scored in extra time to send Premier League side Chelsea into a quarter-final clash against Brazil's Palmeiras.

Chelsea's late burst of scoring settled a game that took four hours, 39 minutes to complete at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina after a near two-hour weather delay.

Paulinho the hero as Palmeiras edge Botafogo

Sun, 29 Jun, 2025

Paulinho the hero as Palmeiras edge Botafogo

Philadelphia: Substitute Paulinho scored an extra-time winner to settle a Brazilian battle of attrition as Palmeiras edged Botafogo 1-0 on Saturday to win through to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 quarter-finals.

The winger came on at the same time in the second half as Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira withdrew teenage sensation Estevao Willian, a move that appeared baffling at the time but ultimately proved inspired.

Qualifiers - Preview: Matchday 4

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Qualifiers - Preview: Matchday 4

Kuala Lumpur: Fans will get closer to knowing the cast for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ with Matchday Four of the Qualifiers taking place on Wednesday.

With just the eight group winners to advance to the Finals, there is still all to play for although several sides are better placed than others.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at how seven groups stand, with Group A to be contested later in July.

Al Hilal thriving as Inzaghi makes his mark

Sat, 28 Jun, 2025

Al Hilal thriving as Inzaghi makes his mark

Nashville: It may still be early days but Simone Inzaghi is slowly but surely getting his message across with Al Hilal SFC advancing to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 knockout stage.

The Italian, who has been in charge less than a month, called for greater efficiency inside the box going into the final Group H tie against CF Pachuca on Thursday and his players delivered.
 
Salem Al Dawsari and Marcos Leonardo struck as Al Hilal won 2-0 to advance to a last 16 showdown with Manchester City on Monday.

Bangladesh Football Federation inspires tribal women in Bangladesh

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Bangladesh Football Federation inspires tribal women in Bangladesh

Chittagong: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Dream Asia Foundation, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), conducted the Empowering Hill Women to Pursue Football Careers programme across the districts of Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachari in January 2025.

Spanning four days, the event aimed to maximise the capabilities of the community’s women by introducing them to career pathways in football, with a strong emphasis on education and child safeguarding.

Butler’s Bangladesh dreaming big

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Butler’s Bangladesh dreaming big

Yangon: Bangladesh are chasing a historic first after a dazzling 7-0 win against Bahrain in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers Group C opener on Sunday.

Yet to feature in the Finals, Peter Butler’s side are showing that things could be different this time around with only two more matches standing in their way of a place at Australia 2026.

Cornelli, Nurul Azurin pleased with Malaysia’s winning start

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Cornelli, Nurul Azurin pleased with Malaysia’s winning start

Dushanbe: Malaysia got off to a positive start in their bid to reach the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ with the 1-0 win against Palestine in their Qualifiers Group H tie on Sunday boosting the mood within the camp.

Head coach Joel Cornelli was delighted with the win but at the same time, saw areas for improvement ahead of their match against hosts Tajikistan on Wednesday.

Thailand’s flair delights Ikeda

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Thailand’s flair delights Ikeda

Chiang Mai: Head coach Futoshi Ikeda praised his players’ composure after Thailand recorded a dominant 7-0 victory over Iraq in their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Qualifiers Group B clash on Sunday.

The win means Thailand are level on six points with India at the top of the group, marking another confident outing for Ikeda’s side as they chase a place in the Finals.