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Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Japanese football legend Kazuyoshi Miura to still play next season – at age 58

Widely listed as the oldest active professional football player, the former international aims to play for fourth-tier Japanese club Suzuka.

12 Nov 2024 - 5:54PM

Group leaders Japan, South Korea face away tests in 2026 World Cup qualifiers

12 Nov 2024 - 3:00PM

Asia’s revamped club competitions will get time to develop, football bosses say

3 Nov 2024 - 3:38PM

Qatar’s Akram Afif, Japan’s Kiko Seike named Asian players of year

Forward Afif led his country to Asian Cup title, while Seike scored 20 goals to help Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies win Japanese domestic title.

30 Oct 2024 - 1:28AM

Qatar’s forward Akram Afif speaks during a press conference after winning the AFC player of the year award. Photo: AFP

Midfielder says Lee Man eyeing Champions League progress amid leadership doubts

Lee Man host Bangkok United at Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday, while Hong Kong counterparts Eastern face Kaya-Iloilo in the Philippines.

24 Oct 2024 - 8:45AM

AFC under fire for moving Ronaldo and Al Nassr Iran game after India snub

Security in situation forces game to be moved to Dubai, but India’s Mohun Bagan were punished for refusing to travel to unsettled region.

21 Oct 2024 - 8:00PM

South Korea’s Son no longer best footballer in Asia, experts crown Afif king

Group brought together by Chinese company Titan Sports end Tottenham star Son Heung-min’s seven-year stranglehold on title.

21 Oct 2024 - 6:20PM

Akram Afif has been recognised for a fabulous 2024 with the Best Footballer in Asia crown. Photo: Reuters

Bahrain concerns taken ‘seriously’ after death threats since Indonesia game

Players have faced ‘insults, slander, threats and hacking operations’ online, Bahrain’s FA alleges, since last week’s 2-2 draw with Indonesia.

19 Oct 2024 - 4:16AM

Son Heung-min facing competition from Ronaldo, Afif and Rahimi for Asian crown

Winner of 12th Best Footballer in Asia crown will be revealed next week, with Asian Cup and Olympic Games stars in the running.

16 Oct 2024 - 12:26PM

Saudi players cannot live in past with World Cup spot on line, warns coach Mancini

Veteran Italian coach says Saudi Arabia, hoping to play in their third straight finals, have ‘only one problem’ compared with past campaigns.

13 Oct 2024 - 10:00AM

Saudi Arabia’s Italian coach Roberto Mancini has told his players they cannot rely on past performances to confirm their passage to North America in two years’ time. Photo: AFP

Japan march on in World Cup qualifiers, Indonesia suffer 99th-minute heartbreak

Midfielder Daichi Kamada says his team can all but book their place in the finals for the eight straight time by beating Australia on Tuesday.

11 Oct 2024 - 2:39PM

Japan beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 away to pull five points clear at the top of Group C, ahead of a chasing pack led by Australia, whom they meet on Tuesday in Saitama. Photo: AFP

Japan set sights on Saudi Arabia, Australia host China in World Cup qualifiers

Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan arrive in the Gulf state having scored 12 times in thrashing China and Bahrain; Socceroos’ new coach makes his debut.

9 Oct 2024 - 3:30PM

Champions League can put Asian women’s football on map, top Japan players say

Football on the continent has fallen behind Europe and North America, but new tournament could give boost game, say Urawa Reds Ladies players.

1 Oct 2024 - 6:30PM

Lee Man unconcerned over missing head coach for big AFC Champions League night

Hong Kong champions tackle Nam Dinh of Vietnam in ACL 2 opener, while domestic rivals Eastern begin continental campaign at Sydney FC.

18 Sep 2024 - 9:06AM

Tsang Chiu-tat (second-right) is unable to lead Lee Man in the AFC Champions League Two competition. Photo: Edmond So

New Asian Champions League seeks to promote quality over quantity, top boss says

New-look competition kicks off on Monday, with general secretary Windsor John promising a ‘variety of flavours’ for fans to enjoy.

14 Sep 2024 - 4:41PM

Al Ain players celebrate after winning the 2023 AFC Champions League with a 5-1 victory over Yokohama F Marinos in the second leg in the United Arab Emirates. Photo: Kyodo

Blame it on the rain: China fans set for expected World Cup loss to Saudi Arabia

After a 7-0 defeat to Japan, a hashtag saying Tuesday’s match could be played in the rain has been trending on Weibo, with fans on the defensive.

9 Sep 2024 - 2:56PM

Winners of revamped Asian league champions football tournament to win US$12m prize

The competition, which starts in August with a preliminary stage, comes after a revamp of Asian football and involves 27 clubs from 12 nations.

19 Jun 2024 - 6:19PM

Malaysian footballer hurt in shopping centre acid attack wants assailants brought to justice

In his first public appearance since the attack, a scarred and emotional Faisal Halim said he would focus on recovery before trying to play again.

13 Jun 2024 - 7:10PM

Malaysian footballer Faisal Halim suffered fourth-degree burns in the acid attack at a shopping centre outside Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Reuters

China promise aggressive approach in vital World Cup qualifier against Thailand

Branko Ivankovic’s team, missing four key men, have a three-point lead over Thailand, but will face leaders South Korea in final match, while the Thais will be expected to beat Singapore.

6 Jun 2024 - 4:40PM

Son and co play under ‘headbutt’ coach while South Korea seek Klinsmann successor

Kim Do-hoon takes over for two games as South Korea chase spot in next round of World Cup qualifying, having left his last role after a 2022 incident.

20 May 2024 - 5:35PM

Asian football president for 20 years? AFC votes to scrap term limits at summit

Bahraini royal can now seek re-election in 2027, but it is a ‘clear signal of our intent to ensure that we remain a model confederation’, according to Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

17 May 2024 - 11:21AM

AFC president Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa can seek re-election in 2027 after the reforms were passed. Photo: Reuters

Malaysia’s season-opener cancelled after top club withdraws over violent attacks

Faisal Halim suffered fourth-degree burns following incident at the weekend outside the capital, Kuala Lumpur, while teammate Akhyar Rashid was also injured in robbery outside his home.

9 May 2024 - 7:37PM

Malaysia’s Faisal Halim is in intensive care after being splashed with acid by two attackers. Photo: AFP

Malaysia acid-attack footballer in ‘critical but stable’ condition

Officials say Faisal Halim has fourth-degree burns on neck, shoulder, hands and chest and will need more surgery.

7 May 2024 - 10:00PM

Malaysian international footballer Faisal Halim injured in acid attack: official

Police chief quoted as saying a suspect has been arrested, while photo of Faisal with burn marks goes viral.

6 May 2024 - 6:45PM

Indonesia swells with pride as Young Garuda footballers eye Olympic glory

Despite a 2-0 loss in the U-23 Asian Cup semi-finals, the Young Garuda have a chance of reaching the Olympics if they clinch third place.

1 May 2024 - 10:30AMvideocam

The Young Garuda pose for a photo before their semi-final against Uzbekistan at the U-23 Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

EPL matches in Hong Kong? Fifa to consider rule change to overseas games policy

The sport’s world governing body has said it will look into the policy which blocks league games from being staged in foreign territories.

9 Apr 2024 - 1:03PM

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scores his team’s second goal of the game during their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United. Photo: dpa

Footballers’ union calls AFC Champions League ‘unsustainable’ in new report

Report accuses bosses of ignoring players and clubs, says average quality of teams in competition inferior to the top domestic divisions in Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

19 Feb 2024 - 2:56PM

Editorial | Hong Kong and China have much to learn from Asian Cup elimination

Hong Kong and China took different paths to elimination from the Asian Cup, but reflecting on their performance and progress will boost their prospects in the World Cup qualifiers

7 Feb 2024 - 6:30AM

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Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of association football in Asia and Australia. It has 47 member countries, mostly located on the Asian and Australian continent. Australia, formerly in the OFC, joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, and the Oceanian island of Guam is also a member of AFC, in addition to Northern Mariana Islands. Hong Kong and Macau, although not independent countries are also members of the AFC. One of Fifa's six continental confederations, the AFC was formed officially on May 8, 1954 in Philippines. The main headquarters are located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The current president is Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain.