Latest update on the AFC Champions League 2022™

Fri, 09 Dec, 2022

Latest update on the AFC Champions League 2022™

Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has today confirmed the new dates of the AFC Champions League 2022™ Round of 16, Quarter-finals and Semi-final centralised matches in the West region as well as the two-legged Final.

The Round of 16 (West) has been rescheduled from February 3 and 4, 2023 to February 19 and 20, while the Quarter-finals will be held on February 23 before the Semi-final is staged on February 26.

Rice returns to England training after illness absence

Thu, 08 Dec, 2022

Rice returns to England training after illness absence

Doha: England midfielder Declan Rice returned to training on Thursday, easing fears about his fitness ahead of Saturday's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter-final against France.

Midfielder Kalvin Phillips told a news conference that Rice had taken part in the training session at their Al-Wakrah base.

Social Wrap: Downtime and homecomings for stars

Thu, 08 Dec, 2022

Social Wrap: Downtime and homecomings for stars

Doha: The Asian teams may have all departed but the show must go on as eight nations continue their quests to be crowned the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 champions.

After some exhilarating Round of 16 action, eight more sides have left Qatar’s shores and those who remain are enjoying a short break before the tournament resumes for the quarter-finals on Friday. 

As some players return home and others take time off to look around the host country, the-AFC.com dives into the social media worlds of those involved.

Japan target fifth AFC Asian Cup™ title after Qatar 2022 heartbreak

Thu, 08 Dec, 2022

Japan target fifth AFC Asian Cup™ title after Qatar 2022 heartbreak

Narita: Japan will put their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 heartbreak behind them and focus on becoming Asian champions for a fifth time, captain Maya Yoshida said after the team returned home on Wednesday.

The Blue Samurai were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup on penalties by Croatia in the last 16 on Monday, denying them a first-ever place in the quarter-finals.

But the defeat did not stop hundreds of fans from travelling to an airport near Tokyo to welcome the players and head coach Hajime Moriyasu back from Qatar.

Heavyweights gear up for business end

Thu, 08 Dec, 2022

Heavyweights gear up for business end

Doha: Brazil, France and other FIFA World Cup heavyweights started the build-up to their quarter-final matches in earnest after Portugal made a huge statement of intent against Switzerland.

Five-time winners Brazil, defending champions France, Lionel Messi's Argentina and England are all still in the mix as the tournament in Qatar paused after non-stop action since November 20. 

But 2010 winners Spain were licking their wounds after crashing out to Morocco, ruminating on an identity crisis as they jetted home.

Portugal hero Ramos 'never dreamt' of World Cup hat-trick

Thu, 08 Dec, 2022

Portugal hero Ramos 'never dreamt' of World Cup hat-trick

Doha: Portugal's hat-trick hero Goncalo Ramos said he had not even dreamt of starting a FIFA World Cup knockout match, let alone scoring three in his first start in the tournament.

The 21-year-old striker was handed a surprise start ahead of five-times Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo and rewarded head coach Fernando Santos with a brilliant match-winning display.