Stumbling at the first hurdle, Thailand qualified for the 2023 Asian Cup by way of third round qualification. The Qatar finals mark the country’s eighth run in the competition, headlined by a third-placed finish in their nation’s Asian Cup debut in 1972.
The United Arab Emirates have reached the semi-finals of the Asian Cup on the last two occasions and yet despite those results the Whites have never truly been considered a part of Asia’s elite.
Uzbekistan have been ever present in the tournament over the past eight editions and are the most successful side from Central Asia having qualified for every Asian Cup since the fall of the Soviet Union. Their most notable achievement was in 2011 when they reached the semi-finals.
With their fifth appearance in the Asian Cup, Vietnam are steadily emerged as a formidable force in football in Southeast Asia and beyond.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 22 — Manchester City cruised past Fluminense of Brazil 4-0 to win a maiden Club World Cup and conclude a spectacular 2023 with a fifth trophy.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 22 – Not dissimilar to when the concept was first launched back in April 2021, Europe’s main football stakeholders, led by UEFA, have joined forces to denounce ambitious plans for a new version of the European Super League – even though the landscape has changed overnight.
December 22 – Despite widespread condemnation, the sports development company behind a possible new European Super League, A22, has outlined its plans for the tournament following Thursday’s judgement by the European Court of Justice that UEFA’s rules restricting the creation of new competitions were unlawful.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 22 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is relishing the challenge of taking on Fluminense and their idiosyncratic style in the final of the Club World Cup as the European champions seek to wrap up their best year ever.
December 22 – The FIFA men’s rankings have been nudged only slightly in the latest update, as OFC nations battle it out in the Pacific Games whilst the rest of the world remains focused on domestic leagues. Argentina remain on top.
December 22 – The Asian Football Confederation has introduced an all-new match predictor game ahead of the start of the Asian Cup next month, giving fans the chance to win prizes for guessing the correct scores for Asian Cup fixtures.
By Samindra Kunti in Jeddah
December 22 – The Norwegian FA (NFF) has slammed FIFA’s bidding process for the 2034 World Cup, calling it a “foregone conclusion” and pointing at “a lack of transparency” in the decision making.
For more than two months, the world has been watching with horror and incredulity how civilians are being slaughtered in Gaza.
December 22 – The Albanian government has decided to reward all players and coaches of the Albanian national team with diplomatic passports.
December 22 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced it will establish a new Reform Taskforce to continue and build on the reforms of 2016.
December 22 – The AFC has reaffirmed its commitment to expand its social development programmes via its Dream Asia Foundation aimed at empowering the continent’s most vulnerable communities.