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AFC Cup

The AFC Cup is a football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for clubs from "developing countries" in Asia – such as Hong Kong – deemed not strong enough for the AFC Champions League. Teams from the AFC’s West Asia division (largely the Middle East) have dominated the competition since its inception in 2004. Hong Kong’s best ever performance was Sun Hei reaching the semi-finals in 2005.

last updated:

9 September, 2024

Qatar players celebrate after successfully defending their Asian Cup title with victory in the final against surprise-package Jordan. Photo: AP

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Qatar’s continental defence, Saudis named World Cup hosts in big 2024 for Asia

The past 12 months saw the continent awarded another crack at welcoming the globe’s biggest footballing event.

31 Dec 2024 - 12:28AM

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong international Wu says sorry to fans after AFC Cup miss

7 Sep 2022 - 1:58PM

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Late Shakhruz Norkhonov header downs Eastern Long Lions in AFC Cup

6 Sep 2022 - 11:26PM

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Call of the East lured defender Kozubaev to Hong Kong’s AFC Cup cause

The prospect of a new challenge with Eastern Long Lions proved too hard for Tamirlan Kozubaev to resist.

5 Sep 2022 - 5:30PM

Tamirlan Kozubaev at a training session in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan, before his side’s AFC Cup inter-zone semi-final against PFC Sogdiana Jizzakh. Photo: Eastern SC

AFC Asian Cup 2023

South Korea submits bid to host 2023 Asian Cup

South Korea officially submitted its bid to host the 2023 Asian Cup following China’s withdrawal due to the coronavirus, the Korean Football Association said Thursday.

1 Jul 2022 - 11:00AM

Eastern banish ‘dark days’ to reach AFC Cup knockout stage for first time

Hong Kong side beat Tainan City 3-1 to secure progression from Group J, as head coach Roberto Losada pays tribute to players after tough season – ‘I’m so proud of all of them’.

30 Jun 2022 - 9:50PM

Hong Kong side Eastern have one foot in AFC Cup knockout stage

A draw against Tainan City in their final group match on Thursday will send the Long Lions into the next round of the competition for the first time.

29 Jun 2022 - 5:30PM

Eastern head coach Roberto Losada and player Sun Ming-him who will be back in action against Tainan City in the AFC Cup group match after serving a one-game suspension. Photo Eastern

Tainan City in must-win AFC Cup game against Eastern Long Lions

Head coach Kenneth Kwok vows to apply lessons learned from his side’s loss to Lee Man in Buriram, as the club look to keep slim hopes of place in next phase of competition alive.

29 Jun 2022 - 9:00AM

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Departing Junior Dutra scores as Lee Man keep slim AFC Cup hopes alive

Brazilian scores in second half as Hong Kong Premier League side down Tainan City 3-1, meaning side could move on to next round depending on result of match between Eastern Long Lions and Tainan on Thursday.

27 Jun 2022 - 11:01PM

Lee Man in must win game against Tainan City to keep AFC Cup hopes alive

Lee Man must put behind them a disappointing performance against Eastern as they need to beat Tainan City of Taiwan to keep their slim hopes alive in the 2022 AFC Cup in Buriram, Thailand on Monday.

26 Jun 2022 - 8:15PM

Lee Man head coach Chan Hiu-ming at the pre-match press conference against Tainan City of Taiwan in the AFC Cup. Photo: Lee Man

Eastern off to flying start in AFC Cup with win over Lee Man

Roberto Losada’s side will advance to the next round if they beat Tainan City of Taiwan next week, after 3-1 victory in all-Hong Kong affair.

24 Jun 2022 - 9:52PM

Ma Hei-wai celebrates with Eastern teammate Chu Wai-kwan after scoring against Lee Man. Photos: Eastern Long Lions

Eastern, Lee Man kick off AFC Cup group stage in all-Hong Kong affair

Winners in Buriram, Thailand stand good chance of qualification from group J, with Eastern coach Roberto Losada upbeat despite a big upheaval of his squad.

23 Jun 2022 - 7:45PM

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Lee Man coach concerned after defender gets Covid while on Hong Kong duty

Tsui Wang-kit was one of the two Hong Kong players to test positive before the Asian Cup qualifying tournament kicked off in Kolkata

17 Jun 2022 - 6:00PM

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Covid forces Macau side out of AFC Cup, Hong Kong teams among 3 left in Group J

Asian Football Confederation confirms that MUST CPK have withdrawn from competition and says no team will be added to group. Lee Man and Eastern Long Lions will compete with Tainan City for place in Inter-Zone semi-finals.

20 May 2022 - 5:29PM

Lee Man’s Ngan Lok-fung (left) battles for the ball with Eastern Long Lions’ Wong Wai during their AFC Cup Group J match at Hong Kong Stadium on June 23, 2021. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Players don’t want to play for Hong Kong, new boss Jorn Andersen says

National soccer side have ‘headaches’ in attack and defence for Norwegian’s first match in charge, a friendly against Malaysia, before the Asian Cup qualifiers.

15 May 2022 - 11:09AM

Hong Kong coach Jorn Andersen at training as he prepares for the Asian Cup qualifiers. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong boss Andersen hails ‘very important’ Thailand trip

Jorn Andersen is scouting Kitchee and Lee Man as he mulls Asian Cup qualifiers squad, with Hong Kong players tasting first competitive action since he took charge last December.

18 Apr 2022 - 11:06AM

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Lee Man must play AFC Cup clash in Mongolia, Asian football bosses say

Hong Kong club had been expecting to host playoff against Athletic 220 next month, but city’s Covid-19 lockdown forced them to ask for game to be delayed and played in neutral venue. Both requests have been denied.

17 Mar 2022 - 4:30PM

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Lee Man become second Hong Kong side forced to head overseas by Covid rules

Manager Chan Hiu-ming, whose side need to prepare for their AFC Cup campaign, says they have no choice but to leave city, as Covid-19 restrictions mean they cannot play or train in Hong Kong.

1 Mar 2022 - 2:15PM

Lee Man also met Athletic 220 of Mongolia in last year’s AFC Cup. Midfielder Ngan Lok-fung (yellow) tries to get away from Enkhbileg Purevdorj when they beat the Mongolian side 5-1 at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

China women on verge of qualifying for 2023 World Cup

The Steel Roses take their unbeaten group run into the AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarter-finals against Vietnam on Sunday.

28 Jan 2022 - 2:04PM

Taiwan seal quarter-finals spot with 5-0 victory over Iran

Taiwan booked their place in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarter-finals after a convincing 5-0 win over Iran in their final Group A match.

27 Jan 2022 - 12:59PM

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Australian legend Kerr mobbed by Indonesian players after 18-0 hammering

Captain Sam Kerr scores five in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup group opener to break former men’s international Tim Cahill’s tally, adding that it was ‘special’ to achieve it in her birthplace of India.

22 Jan 2022 - 8:15PM

Australian football player Sam Kerr (centre) with Indonesian team players after an AFC Women’s Asian Cup group game and 2023 World Cup qualifier in India. Photo: Instagram / CommBank Matildas

China names a revamped 23-player squad ahead of AFC Women’s Asian Cup

Head coach Shui Qingxia has axed several players after poor performance at the Tokyo Games.

11 Jan 2022 - 6:15PM

Li Ying will be part of a 23 player squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Photo: Getty Images

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Hong Kong’s Lee Man beaten but not bowed after narrow AFC Cup semi-final defeat

With a brief history of four years, the club was aiming to become the first from Hong Kong to reach the regional club competition final.

21 Oct 2021 - 10:19PM

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Lee Man aim to become first Hong Kong side to reach AFC Cup final amid obstacles

They will play hosts Nasaf of Uzbekistan next week but must go through air travel restrictions and need to quarantine upon returning home.

12 Oct 2021 - 10:44PM

Fifa World Cup 2022

ELEVEN to show Qatar 2022 Asian qualifiers in Hong Kong

All AFC tournaments to be shown in city and across Southeast Asia from 2022-24 with Fifa World Cup qualifiers up first.

8 Oct 2021 - 12:54PM

Son Heung-min shoots for South Korea in their Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 Asian qualification football match against Syria. Photo: AFP

Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

‘Perfect result’ sees Lee Man through to next round of AFC Cup

Fast start sees continental new boys race into 3-0 lead after just 11 minutes against Taiwan’s Tainan City at Tseung Kwan O as head-to-head record takes debutants to semi-finals.

27 Jun 2021 - 12:28PM

Hong Kong Premier League side Lee Man captain Fernando Recio challenges Benchy Estama of Taiwan's Tainan City in the AFC Cup at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. Photo: HKFA

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Eastern Long Lions beat R&F to win FA Cup and claim place in AFC Cup

Clayton Afonso and Everton Camargo strike to give Lee Chi-kin’s team victory.

28 Sep 2020 - 10:23PM

Impossible task: Kitchee draw 1-1 with Al Kuwait but lose 7-1 on aggregate in AFC Cup quarter-final

Kitchee failed to recover from a first leg deficit as they managed a 1-1 draw against visiting Al Kuwait in the AFC Cup quarter-finals at Mong Kok Stadium last night.

16 Sep 2015 - 11:34PM

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