AFC 2026 qualifiers: Aussies let points slip with draws against Saudi and Bahrain
November 21 – Australia’s World Cup hopes remain in doubt after a 2-2 draw with Bahrain in Group C in the third round of World Cup qualifying.
Competitions
AFC releases detail on Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026
November 13 – The AFC has announced new details for the Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026 during the AFC Women’s Football Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesia wins 2026 Futsal hosting as AFC brings in qualification changes across multiple competitions
November 11 – Indonesia has been chosen as the host for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup, following a recommendation from the AFC Futsal & Beach Soccer Committee.
Draw for 2025 U20 Asian Cup China held in Shenzen
November 8: The draw for the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025 has seen the China PR, champions in 1985, drawn with Australia, Kyrgyz Republic and Qatar in Group A.
Neymar returns for Al Hilal with cameo ACL role
October 22 – A year after rupturing his left ACL, Neymar returned to action with a second-half cameo in the Asian Champions League tie between Al Hilal and holders Al-Ain.
Iranian security fears force AFC to shifts Esteghal vs Al-Nassr ACL tie to Dubai
October 22 – Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Nassr’s AFC Champions League Elite match has been controversially moved from Iran to Dubai by the Asian Football Confederation due to security concerns.
AFC draws qualifying groups for covid-delayed Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025
October 18 – The AFC has drawn the groups for the 2025 Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025 with 19 teams to play in four centralised locations January 11-19, 2025.
Asian 2026 qualifying sees Uzbekistan, Iran, South Korea and Japan open up group leads
October 16 – The second international window of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup has seen old stagers and emerging nations stake a claim for a spot in the finals to be jointly held in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
AFC World Cup 2026 qualifying heats up with crucial fixtures, and it is only match day 3
October 9 – It is only the third match day of ten, but already the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup are reaching a crucial, must-win stage for some of the AFC’s established international nations.
Centralised group stage of AFC Women’s Champions League kicks off this week
September 30 – The inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League is poised for kickoff this week with three centralised groups of four clubs each open the group stage to qualify eight teams to the knock-out rounds.
More teams, more matches, more opportunity. AFC revamps its women’s national team competition structures
September 13 – The AFC has released a set of reforms covering its women’s national team competitions that revamp the qualification pathways to their finals and World Cups.
Asian Cup Champions Qatar and Australia stumble in first rounds of 2026 qualifying
August 11 – Reigning Asian Champions Qatar have had disastrous starts to their qualification campaigns for the 2026 World Cup, failing to win a game in either of the opening two rounds. They weren’t the only Asian power player to miss out on points, with Australia also failing to record a win.
Palestine fly their flag high with draw away to South Korea in 2026 World Cup qualifying
September 6 – Despite all the anxiety and horrors of back home, war-torn Palestine gave their fans something to cheer about with a landmark 0-0 draw at Asian giants South Korea on Thursday as they attempt to reach the World Cup for the first time.
Inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League prelim winners head into October group stage
September 2 – The four final slots in the group stages of the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League were decided at the weekend with the final four group games of the preliminary group stage.
Inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League prelim groups reach final match day with all to play for
August 30 – The 13-team preliminary group stage of the AFC’s inaugural Women’s Champions League 2024/25 will complete Saturday with each of the four groups going down to the wire.
