Iraq sack Casas after “serious breach”
April 15 – Iraq have announced the sacking of manager Jesus Casas with just two games remaining in Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
April 16 – The Asian Football Confederation has again expressed unity in its support for the Palestine FA and called for FIFA to respond swiftly to the complaint against the Israeli FA (IFA) calling for it to be sanctioned with a suspension.
April 16 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is accelerating its entry into the virtual football space with the official launch of the AFC eChampions League Elite (eACL Elite) this month in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – the brainchild of its first-ever Football eSports Forum in Kuala Lumpur in late 2024.
April 16 – The Singapore Festival of Football is set for a long-term revival following the signing of a five-year partnership between TEG Sport and the Singapore Tourism Board. The pre-season event, which previously attracted strong crowds and top European clubs, will return this July with Arsenal, Newcastle United and AC Milan confirmed to take part.
AFC takes its learning on the road with ACFAM hybrid format in Kyrgyz Republic
April 15 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is going mobile with its educational support and for the first time holding its AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management (ACFAM) in a hybrid format in a member association country.
AFC chief Salman warns against 64-team World Cup expansion
April 14 – Following in the footsteps of UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa has expressed opposition to a 64-team World Cup.
Salman told Agence France Press: “Personally, I don’t agree.”
AFC Congress reflects on a year of reform, the power of unity and 16 competitions
April 14 – Setting new records has become commonplace for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and after a year that saw multiple records achieved across all its activities, the AFC capped it with a fast-paced Congress that took under 90 minutes to complete.
Thailand and China awarded hosting rights to AFC’s women’s youth Asian Cups
April 14 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed Thailand and China as the host nations for its upcoming women’s youth tournaments, marking a significant step forward in the regional body’s strategy to elevate the women’s game across Asia.
Magnificent Seven: Record number of bidders for 2031 Asian Cup
April 11 – A record seven member associations have formally expressed interest in hosting the AFC Asian Cup in 2031, all submitting their candidatures by the March 31 deadline.
AFC Congress to review a record breaking year as next commercial rights cycle looms
April 10 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will hold its 35th Congress this Saturday, April 12, in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, where the regional governing body is headquartered.
CR7 empire expands with flagships store and museum in Hong Kong
April 8 – Cristiano Ronaldo’s off-pitch brand continues to expand with the launch of the first CR7 LIFE flagship store and museum in Hong Kong, marking the footballer’s most ambitious commercial move in Asia to date.
AFC kicks off its first Empowering Women in Football educational programme
April 8 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched the inaugural iteration of its Empowering Women in Football Programme (AEWFP).
India’s Supreme Court debates new draft constitution for AIFF
April 2 – A proposed AIFF draft constitution, suggesting amendments, has been presented to India’s Supreme Court and could enable the federation to progress to fresh elections.
ESPN renews AFC rights for Central and South America and Caribbean
April 2 – ESPN has renewed its exclusive media rights agreement in Central America, South America and the Caribbean with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the 2025-2028 cycle.
North London Derby ventures East to headline Hong Kong Football Festival
April 1 – Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will take their fierce north London rivalry overseas for the first time when they face-off in a pre-season friendly in Hong Kong this summer. The clash will be played at the newly opened Kai Tak Stadium on July 31, marking the first North London Derby to be hosted outside of the UK.
