Development – Inside World Football

AFC revamps U17 and U20 Asian Cup qualifiers to improve competitive balance

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:57:51 +0000

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.

The decision to revamp qualifying was taken to address “the technical gaps resulting in large score margins and early mathematical eliminations.”

The new qualification proposals were made by the AFC Competitions Committee meeting last weekend at the U23 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia.

AFC closes grassroots conference with renewed development commitment

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 06:13:35 +0000

November 14 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has wrapped up its 4th Grassroots Football Conference, held this week in Kuala Lumpur, marking a renewed push to elevate grassroots development across the continent.

More than 100 delegates from AFC Member Associations gathered for three days of workshops, presentations, and discussions aimed at tackling some of the sport’s most persistent challenges – from player retention and coaching standards to the growing role of technology in youth development.

AFC launches online course aimed at club management

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 03:51:44 +0000

November 10 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched a new Club Management Programme (ACMP) aimed at raising the professional and administrative standards of clubs across the continent – a 10-month, fully online course designed to equip Asia’s football leaders with the tools to run sustainable, modern football operations.

The initiative falls under the AFC’s Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE), the confederation’s education platform, which has already produced training for administrators, coaches and female leaders.

DFL opens up Aussie opportunities with Tourism and Events Queensland MoU

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:40:07 +0000

August 29 – The DFL has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tourism and Events Queensland with an initial target of delivering a summer festival of football, alongside a wider focus to foster the development of football across the region.

The MoU was signed in Brisbane by Bundesliga International Head of APAC Kevin Sim and TEQ CEO Craig Davidson.

The initiative will focus on a range of community projects, including integrating the Bundesliga into existing sporting and cultural events,

AFC opens applications for third Certificate in Football Leadership

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:46:42 +0000

March 12 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched the third edition of its AFC Certificate in Football Leadership (ACFL), a six-month programme run by the AFC Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE).

The ACFL is taught across six proprietary modules that mix a theoretical perspective, hands-on activities, and case studies. The objective is to accelerate AFC member nation leadership capabilities and improve their real-time decision-making competencies.

The modules comprise Principles of Leadership,

AFC celebrates stand out year for women’s game as it continues to build capacity

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 03:15:16 +0000

November 18 – The 3rd AFC Women’s Football Conference has concluded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, following three days of discussions aimed at elevating women’s football in Asia.

Held from November 12-14, the event brought together women’s national team coaches, technical staff, and key stakeholders to define strategies for sustainable progress in the women’s game.

Coming off an extraordinary year for women’s football globally, the conference placed emphasis on capitalising on Asia’s recent successes,

AFC’s Women’s Football Conference returns after 5-year gap

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:25:33 +0000

November 12 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) marked the return of its Women’s Football Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, after a five-year hiatus. First held in 2019, the conference reopened with the AFC Special Grassroots Awards and AFC Special Elite Youth Football Awards, celebrating the dedication of AFC Member Associations (MAs) in building future generations of Asian football talent.

Vietnam emerged as a standout winner, with Nguyen Hoang Phuong honoured as Best Grassroots Leader,

AFC Development Committee doubles funding for regional associations

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 04:27:24 +0000

October 1 – The AFC is doubling the funding it provides to its five Regional Associations (RA) in the 2025-28 cycle to $500,000 a year.

The decision was announced by the chairperson of the AFC’s Development Committee Yasser H. Almisehal who praised the ‘legacy’ of the AFC’s development programmes and the aim to provide more tailormade solutions for the Confederation’s members.

The increased funding will come via the AFC Enhance Programme Regulations which the committee said they would adapt for six of their member associations (MA)who they acknowledged faced unique circumstances when applying for the grants,

Saudi Pro League partners with TikTok as it rolls out its brand globally

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 08:59:59 +0000

September 6 – The Saudi Pro League has announced TikTok as its digital partner for the 2024/25 season.

TikTok will introduce a dedicated SPL Exclusive Hub, a central space where fans can access content from the league’s clubs and partners. It will also look to increase exposure of the league worldwide to bring the SPL “closer to its expanding fanbase”.

In return, the SPL will offer exclusive content available only on TikTok,

Saudis host African coaches for women’s development workshop

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 21 May 2024 04:11:24 +0000

May 21 – Saudi Arabia is continuing its football outreach with the most recent event being a 5-day women’s football development workshop that brought together coaches from Africa and Saudi Arabia.

In May 2023 the Saudi Arabian FA signed a memorandum of understanding with Africa’s regional governing body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The cooperation and development agreement is for five years with the objective to foster strong ties and football development,

AFC kicks off National Coaches Conference with focus on learning from January’s Asian Cup

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 08 May 2024 03:44:56 +0000

May 8 – The Asian Football Confederation kicked off its 3rd AFC National Coaches Conference kicked off on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur.

The three-day conference, themed ‘AFC Asian Cup 2023 – The National Coaches’ Perspective’, aims to provide national team coaches and technical staff the opportunity to reflect on the learnings from the 2023 Asian Cup.

AFC technical director Andy Roxburgh said: “In recent years, Asian football has experienced significant growth.

Bundesliga teams with India’s BigHit to explore talent pool

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 12:20:32 +0000

March 5 – Bundesliga International has linked with Indian scouting platform BigHit to take young Indian footballers to Germany.

Over the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons, six Under-13 and Under-15 teams will visit Bundesliga clubs in an effort to access India’s untapped football potential.

India has struggled to make a mark in international football and limped out of the recent Asian Cup in Qatar, where they finished bottom of their group without scoring a goal.

Australia’s Arnold says being part of Asia’s growth has boosted performance levels

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:26:15 +0000

January 18 – Australia made the right call to leave Oceania and join the Asian Football confederation (AFC) in 2006 because of the superior level of opposition, says Socceroos coach Graham Arnold.

The Aussies had been with the Oceania Football Confederation for nearly four decades before making the switch.

“I didn’t make the decision to come into Asia from Oceania but I really think it’s improved us as a nation in football because the competition,

AFC kicks off revamped Knowledge Sharing Programme

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:27:13 +0000

January 3 – The AFC has unveiled the inaugural AFC Knowledge Sharing Programme 2024, spotlighting its drive to enhance the capabilities of its Member Associations (MA) and Regional Associations (RA) and establish football as the primary sport across the continent.

Replacing the prior AFC Internship programme, this new initiative gives individuals an immersive training period under the guidance of football governance experts. First participants are from the Palestine Football Association (PFA), Football Association of Malaysia (FAM),

AFC seeds its grassroots at Kuala Lumpur conference, recognising outstanding achievement

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 02:43:18 +0000

November 22 -The AFC kicked off its third Grassroots Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, yesterday with a series of awards recognising the unsung heroes of grassroots football in Asia.

Japan’s Masakatsu Setowaki was recognised as Best Grassroots Leader; India’s Anantapur Sports Academy was crowned as the Best Grassroots Project; and Best Grassroots Club was awarded to Japan’s Kasuga Eagles Club.

AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John, who presented the awards,

Return of AFC Youth Conference focuses on development of Asia’s elite talent

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 04:30:18 +0000

November 16 – After a break of four years, the 4th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Youth Conference completed Thursday after a two-and-a-half day programme focussed on elite youth development in Asian football.

The event was attended by 90 delegates from 39 Member Associations (MAs), which comprised Technical Directors, Heads of Youth Football and National Youth Team Head Coaches, among others.

AFC Deputy General Secretary, Competitions and Football, Shin Man Gil said: “It is indeed timely that we are gathered for this Youth Conference,

AFC Development Committee approves new MA applications for Enhance initiative

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:15:15 +0000

September 28 – The AFC Development Committee has approved seven member association applications for its Enhance Programme that provides services to support and help MAs develop their operations.

Under chairperson Yasser H. Almisehal, the Qatar Football Association, the Lebanese Football Association, The Football Association of Thailand, Tajikistan Football Federation, Lao Football Federation, The Football Association of Hong Kong, China Limited all had submission approved, while the committee also greenlighted the AFC Enhance Programme – Extra-Time proposal from the Kyrgyz Football Union.

AFC coaches under scrutiny as Tech Committee pushes for higher quality and quantity

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:05:31 +0000

September 20 – The AFC Technical Committee has raised the coaching criteria requirements for coaches in its club competitions, saying that the regions needs to further “strengthen the foundations for the Continent’s coaches to further elevate the standards of the Asian game”.

The committee, meeting virtually, under the chairperson Kohzo Tashima, agreed that the current Minimum Coaching Requirements (MCR) for the current AFC Champions League will apply to both the AFC Champions League Elite and the AFC Champions League 2;

Inter Milan add third Chinese academy after five-year gap

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:22:01 +0000

September 14 – Serie A front runners Inter are poised to further expand their academy network by opening a new academy centre in the city of Fuzhou, China, just weeks after introducing its Strikers academy in the US.

The new Academy, which is on a five-year contract, will be overseen by Inter coaches from Milan, who will instal the club’s academy model throughout the new facility.

The opening of the project will make it the third Chinese Inter Academy centre,

LaLiga commits to Vietnamese FA’s development with new MoU

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 04:15:30 +0000

September 11 – LaLiga and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Hanoi that will see the two institutions partner until 2026.

The agreement is focussed on growing professional football in Vietnam, and helping develop the national team, which has never qualified for the Men’s World Cup.

As part of the agreement, LaLiga will open an academy in Vietnam, sharing expertise and serving as a platform for the development of talented young players that otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to reach their footballing potential.

AFC’s Professional Football Task Force plots long term sustainability plan for Asian clubs

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 05:30:27 +0000

August 24 – The AFC, through its Professional Football Task Force, is taking key steps towards the confederation’s objective of establishing a sustainable blueprint aimed at elevating the professional standards of Asian club football.

The AFC has revamped its three-tiered club competitions system which will take effect from the 2024/25 season. The Task Force reviewed the amendments suggested to the 2023 edition of the AFC Club Licensing Regulations with a view to ensuring they strengthened the long term development of Asian clubs.

Emenalo charged with building ‘sustainable’ talent pipeline for Saudi Pro League

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 04:41:11 +0000

July 24 – Former Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo, now the Saudi Pro League’s director of football, has spoken of his new role leading the country’s Player Acquisition Centre of Excellence (PACE).

Emenalo will direct project, which aims to foster both young Saudi talent and ‘the best’ international talent.

During Emenalo’s ten-year stint at Stamford Bridge, the West-London club’s scouting, recruitment, development and loan systems were revolutionised by the Nigerian, who is credited with overseeing crucial transfers such as Ngolo Kante and Eden Hazard,

AFC leads on sports medicine with new conference dates, courses and anti-doping regime

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 03:43:54 +0000

July 7 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Medical Committee has appointed Malaysia as the host for its 8thmedical conference to be held in 2025, July 21 to 25.

The 7th edition was held in Qatar early this year and had more than 600 delegates who were given a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in sports science and medicine.

The AFC’s medical committee, at its first meeting for the 2023 to 2027 term,

AFC Referees Committee adds VMO evaluation panel to match officials programme

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 00:54:53 +0000

July 5 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has set up an AFC Elite Video Match Officials Panel to evaluate Video Match Officials (VMOs) prior to appointment to major competitions.

The AFC said the objective was to create a more “stringent and precise process” of VMO assessment in line with the AFC’s Referees Committee “commitment to ensure the world-class standards of Asian refereeing”.

The AFC has changed the season dates for its club competition from a calendar year to follow the European calendar that runs over the year end.

Somalis are latest Saudi hook-up in African football

Paul Nicholson — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 01:12:21 +0000

June 8 – The Saudi Arabian FA has continued to gather co-operation agreements with African nations with the signing of a pact with the Somali FA to help Somalia develop grassroots and youth football.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Ali Abdi Mohamed, President of the Somali Football Federation (pictured left) and Saudi Football Federation president, Yasser Almisehal (pictured right), will focus on technical exchange, grassroots football development, and providing additional opportunities for youth national teams to play overseas matches.

India U-17s start DFB organised training camp in preparation for Asian Cup in Thailand

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 17 May 2023 05:06:04 +0000

May 17 – India’s U-17 national team has started a 15-day training camp in Germany arrives as part of their preparations for the 2023 AFC U-17 Asian Cup to be held in Thailand later this year.

The Indians will visit the DFB Campus, Germany’s new training facility for its national teams, and train with FC Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart youth teams as part of a tailored training camp programme devised between the clubs,

AFC Grassroots Football Day triples in size on its 10th anniversary

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 15 May 2023 05:49:44 +0000

May 15 – A total of 39 member associations committed to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s Grassroots Football Day, taking place today (May 15).

Launched in 2013 with three member associations, the 2023 edition will see more than 39,000 participants in various activities across the confederation.

The AFC said that it will continue its grassroots focus – which includes seminars and panel discussions hosted virtually for coaches and tutors – with the return of the AFC Grassroots Football Conference later this year.

Saudis build women’s programme with launch of first U17 squad

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:08:10 +0000

February 7: Criticism of FIFA’s proposed sponsorship deal for the 2023 Women’s World Cup with the Saudi Arabia tourist board has been loud, but domestically the Saudi’s look to be making all the right moves to provide more opportunity for women in football.

The Kingdom has formed a national U17 squad the first 28 players heading to Riyadh for a training camp in Riyadh this weekend.

The U-17 squad was chosen following trials across the country’s three Regional Training Centres in the capital city Riyadh,

LaLiga and Chinese FA hook up to create permanent Madrid training centre

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 09:20:37 +0000

December 4 – The Chinese Football Association (CFA) has expanded its player development activity outside the country with the set up of a permanent training centre in Santo Domingo, Madrid, for its men’s and women’s teams.

The training centre will host CFA youth teams and coaches with the first group being China’s Under-15s, who are competing in a Madrid Football Federation (RFFM) league as a part of a 10-month programme. The Chinese Under-15 women’s team and the men’s Under-17s are also involved in programmes run at the centre but their stays are generally for less than a month.

AFC launches new editions of FAC programme for its bosses of the future

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:07:23 +0000

July 26 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has boosted its management education for members as it launches its second and third editions of the Football Administration Certificate (FAC) programme for member associations.

A total of 51 participants from 26 Member Associations will take part in the second and third editions of the FAC which has been expanded to include a seventh module focussed on Financial Management in Football.

The new module will augment the current core aspects,