Fifa President Gianni Infantino's plan to sell World Cup stakes to private investors faces strong opposition. UEFA unanimously voted to boycott tournaments if the plan proceeds, while Concacaf and AFC, led by Sheikh Salman, also express deep concern over unilateral actions. JP Morgan is again involved despite past controversies.
Despite a record nine AFC teams qualifying for the expanded World Cup, only Australia and Japan reached the knockout rounds, winning just three of 27 group games, highlighting a gap in Asian football compared to African teams' success.
The Korea Football Association has announced that North Korea's Naegohyang Women’s FC intends to compete in a tournament held in South Korea, with officials preparing for necessary government approvals.
The Korea Football Association has confirmed that Naegohyang Women's FC (North Korea) has expressed intention to participate in an upcoming tournament in South Korea. The KFA stated it will proceed with necessary government approval procedures and ensure the team's safety and welfare. If the team advances to the finals, they will remain in South Korea for the final match.
Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee have asked the Asian Football Confederation for clarity on whether they will be promoted to the revamped AFC Champions League Elite for 2026-27. The AFC proposed expanding the competition from 24 to 32 teams, creating uncertainty. Kitchee, who secured the domestic title with four matches to spare last month, expected to compete in the secondary AFC Champions League Two. Head coach Inigo Calderon said the situation is not clear and called for a prompt decision.
Chinese referee Ma Ning remained in Saudi Arabia despite claims on Tuesday that he had been removed from the AFC Champions League Elite tournament following a controversial quarter-final performance. Reports from Saudi Arabia media alleged that Ma was dropped and had left the country after Al-Ittihad’s 1-0 loss to Japanese team Machida Zelvia on Friday in Jeddah. Chinese media Beijing Youth Daily, however, rebutted the report the same day, stating that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)...
