Al Hilal back in action in Qatar as AFC Champions League (West) knock out rounds kick off
February 17 – The AFC Champions League 2022 knockout stage (West) resumes on Sunday, centralised in Qatar.
Competitions
Chinese Super League returns to home and away schedule as covid rules relaxed
February 8 – All matches in the Chinese Super League (CSL) will be played on home-and-away basis this year bringing to an end three seasons of COVID-19 restrictions.
Aussies move to set up second-tier men’s pro league to kick off in 2024
February 6 – Football Australia has taken steps to set-up a second-tier men’s professional league that it aims to kick off in 2024.
AFC Champions League giants clash: Persepolis vs Al Hilal, Ulsan vs Jeonbuk
September 16 – Iranian giants Persepolis, runners up in the 2020 AFC Champions League final, will play the 2019 champions Al Hilal SFC from Saudi Arabia in the quarter finals of this year’s competition.
AFC fills Champions League (East) Group slots after Aussie withdrawals
June 7 – Following the withdrawal of three Australian clubs from the AFC Champions League, the confederation has move quickly to fill the open slots in East Zone group qualifying rounds to be held at the end of the month.
UAE shows last minute unity to host Asian Qualifiers as China baulks at covid outbreaks
By Paul Nicholson
June 1 – The AFC has confirmed it is switching the remaining matches of its Group A, Asian Qualifiers, from China to the United Arab Emirates following outbreaks of coronavirus in the Syrian and Maldives delegations.
AFC sets dates for expanded Women’s Asian Cup India 2022
January 28 – The premium women’s national team competition in Asia, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup to be played in India in 2022 will be held January 20 to February 6.
South Korea pull out of 2023 Asian Cup bid leaving road clear for China
May 16 – South Korea have pulled out of their bid to host the 2023 Asian Cup, leaving China as the last remaining bidder for the AFC’s 24-team blue riband event.
Asian Champions League qualifiers get underway
February 5 – The Asian Cup may only have just finished, but there is little respite for Asia’s players as the qualifiers for this year’s AFC Asian Champions League, the continent’s premier club competition, get underway today.
Japan’s Kashima Antlers secure Asian Champions League title with 2nd leg draw in Tehran
November 13 – Kashima Antlers were crowned AFC Champions League winners for the first time after a goalless stalemate with Iran’s Persepolis at the Azadi Stadium on Saturday saw the Japanese side wrap up a 2-0 aggregate scoreline following their first leg victory last week.
Philippines flying as Asian women kick off qualifying campaigns for Tokyo 2020
November 7 – The first matches the Asian qualifiers for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games women’s football competition have begun with Philippines being the fastest off the mark with a nine goal win over Singapore in the opening game.
Japan wins hat-trick of AFC U-16 titles to lead region into Peru for 2019 U17 World Cup
October 10 – Japan claimed the 2018 AFC U-16 Championship title on Sunday thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Tajikistan in Malaysia.
Kashima Antlers and Persepolis edge first leg wins in ACL semi-final thrillers
October 3 – Kashima Antlers and Iranian giants Persepolis moved one step closer to an AFC Champions League title showdown after both sides earned narrow victories in the first leg of their respective semi-finals.
Thailand to host 2020 U23 AFC Championship with three slots for Tokyo Olympics
September 4 – Thailand will host the next Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Championship 2020 which will also act as a qualification for the Olympic games to be held in Tokyo that year.
Suwon take charge of all-Korean battle for ACL semi-final spot
August 30 – Two goals from Dejan Damjanovic (pictured) helped South Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings edge closer to a place in the last four of this season’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League following a 3-0 win at domestic rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the first leg of their quarter-final clash on Wednesday.
