Iran beat Indonesia in penalty shoot-out to win 14th Futsal Asian Cup
February 11 – Iran kept up their remarkable dominance of Asian Futsal with their 14th title last weekend, beating hosts Indonesia in the Asian Cup 2026 final.
February 19 – UEFA has collaborated with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on a Girls’ Grassroots Participation and Coach Education workshop in Kuala Lumpur, strengthening the two bodies’ collaboration on the development of the women’s game.
February 17 – The future of the Indian Super League (ISL) looked grim until streaming service FanCode stepped in to purchase the media rights earlier this month. With that deal locked down, the platform has now sublicensed the linear TV rights to one of the giants in the region, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI).
February 16 – The AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 will expand its matchday offer beyond the pitch with the launch of dedicated Health Hubs at stadium precincts across Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast.
FIFPRO press for equal prize money at 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup
February 10 – Women’s football in Asia is staring at a moment of rare leverage – and the players know it.
Ronaldo ends feud with Al-Nassr
February 10 – Cristiano Ronaldo’s brief standoff with Al-Nassr appears to have ended, with the club moving to steady relations after what amounted to a calculated show of leverage from their most powerful figure.
AFC unveils bidders for 2035 Asian Cup hosting alongside 2031 host candidates
February 4 – The Asian Football Confederation has closed the initial bidding process for the 2035 AFC Asian Cup. Final host selection will run in parallel with the decision on the 2031 edition.
Chinese FA crackdown hits clubs with points deductions and fines for match-fixing and corruption
January 30 – Nine clubs will begin the new Chinese Super League (CSL) season with points deductions after the latest round of sanctions stemming from investigations into match-fixing, gambling and corruption.
This is another major blow to the domestic game that has spent the better part of a decade battling credibility issues.
AFC completes ACFAM educational programme in Indonesia
January 30 – The Asian Football Confederation has graduated the latest cohort of its AFC Certificate in Football Administration and Management (ACFAM) programme, with 10 participants completing the hybrid course in Indonesia as part of the Garuda Academy framework.
Philippine FA delegation treads ‘strategic pathway’ to Romania
January 30 – The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) is hosting an official delegation from the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) this week, marking a significant milestone in a strategic partnership aimed at helping revolutionise football in the Philippines.
McDonald’s joins as AFC regional partner for Women’s Asian Cup in Aussie
January 28 – Fast food will combine with top-level sport again this spring as the Asian Football Confederation has added McDonald’s as an official regional partner of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.
AFC and Saudi LOC unveil Asian Cup 2027 brand identity
January 25 – The brand identity for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 was unveiled during half time at the U23 Asian Cup final in Jeddah on Saturday.
Japan beat China to retain U23 Asian Cup as Saudi Arabia build hosting credentials
January 25 – Japan brushed China aside 4-0 to retain their AFC U23 Asian Cup title at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium on Saturday. It is Japan’s third U23 Asian title, a confederation record.
AFC revamps U17 and U20 Asian Cup qualifiers to improve competitive balance
January 25 – The AFC is changing the qualifying formats of its U17 and U20 Asian Cups in a bid to optimise its competitions calendar and encourage stronger youth structures within its member associations.
Cambodia earns AFC recognition as it starts academy development journey
January 23 – The Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) has taken a step forward in its youth development ambitions after being awarded one-star status under the AFC Elite Youth Scheme.
