As the FIFA World Cup approaches, the spotlight is once again on Qatar, a nation that made an ambitious debut as the host in 2022. The challenge before them in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup has now transformed from one of aspiration to one of immediate necessity; they must qualify on merit. Given
AFC Asian Cup
As the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup progress, Japan’s national football team, known as the Samurai Blue, appears poised for a remarkable eighth consecutive appearance on the global stage. With a commanding lead of nine points at the top of Group C, the Japanese players have showcased their abilities and promise. They
The stage is set for the announcement of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) International Player of the Year, an honor that has once again drawn attention to Asian football’s brightest stars. Headlining this year’s nominations is Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-Min, who is vying to reclaim his title as the best male player plying his trade
Qatar, the current dominant force in Asian football after winning the past two AFC Asian Cup editions, breezed through the second round of qualifiers. Star striker Almoez Ali led the charge, finishing as the joint-top scorer with seven goals. The Qatari team looks poised to continue their strong performance in the third round. Kuwait, who
Japan’s national team, known as Samurai Blue, have always had an abundance of attacking talent. However, the challenge has been finding a way to effectively integrate all these star players into a cohesive unit. Coach Hajime Moriyasu seems to have made a breakthrough as Japan opened their Group C campaign in the 2026 FIFA World
As a player, Hong Myung-Bo will always be remembered as a legend of South Korean football, achieving great success on the international stage. His leadership during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where South Korea finished in fourth place, solidified his status as one of Asia’s greatest footballers. However, transitioning from player to coach is not
South Korea has made the decision to bring back Hong Myung-Bo for a second stint as the head coach of the national team. This move comes after a five-month period without a coach following the sacking of Jürgen Klinsmann in February. Hong, a former South Korean international player with 136 caps to his name, famously
On Monday, speculation surrounding the future of Japan international Daichi Kamada came to an end as it was officially announced that he had signed a two-year contract with Crystal Palace. As one of the Samurai Blue’s most accomplished players, the move to the Premier League represents the next step in Kamada’s already impressive European career,
As Japan embarks on their journey to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they find themselves in a challenging group alongside familiar opponents. The draw has placed Japan in Group A, where they will face tough competition from Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China, and Indonesia. This group promises to test Japan’s abilities
Qatar has emerged as the dominant force in the Asian qualifiers after winning the past two editions of the AFC Asian Cup. They finished the second round with five wins and a draw, topping Group A comfortably. Star striker Almoez Ali impressed with seven goals, despite missing the final two games. Kuwait, who were barred
FIFA’s proposed expansion of the men’s World Cup from 32 to 48 teams in 2026 has garnered much attention and debate. While many see it as an opportunity for more countries to experience the global stage, there are skeptics like Uzbekistan coach Srečko Katanec who question the increase in team slots. Katanec believes that fewer
In the world of Asian football, 2002 will forever be etched in history as the year the FIFA World Cup took place on the continent. Co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, this watershed moment not only showcased the prowess of the Asian teams but also paved the way for their players to make a mark
On Thursday, Asia’s second phase of preliminaries for the 2026 World Cup commenced with a strong showing from the dominant nations in the region. Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Iran all secured comfortable victories, showcasing their prowess on the field. In a largely second-string side, Japan’s Ayase Ueda stole the spotlight with a remarkable hat-trick,