#AFC Asian Cup

On the world stage, Thailand and Chinese Taipei might not be massive football nations, but in the AFC, they are budding teams that have been growing to get to the top. The goal is also to join others in enjoying the FIFA World Cup because that is the pinnacle of the sport. As the World Cup in Qatar continues, we don't have any other soccer…

Kuwait and Qatar will lock horns at the Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium in the Arabian Gulf Cup on Saturday (January 7). Kuwait are the most successful team in the competition with ten titles, but their last triumph was in 2010. In the previous edition in 2019, they finished bottom of their group. The former AFC Asian Cup champions failed to qualify for…

Bahrain and UAE will open their Arabian Gulf Cup campaign at the Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium on Saturday (January 7). The 25th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup will be hosted by Iraq between January 6 and 9. The eight participating teams are members of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation. Defending champions Bahrain are pitted against Kuwait, Qatar…

Qatar's World Cup record leaves plenty to be desired, as they have never qualified for the competition prior to hosting it in 2022. Felix Sanchez's side were given a spot in the 2022 tournament following FIFA's controversial decision to grant them hosting status back in 2010. The nation's first attempt at World Cup qualification came ahead of the…

We preview the 2022 World Cup match between Qatar and Ecuador, including our pre-match prediction for the opening game. History will be made when hosts Qatar get the 2022 World Cup under way with a clash against Ecuador and their head coach Félix Sánchez says, "you never know what can happen". Al Bayt Stadium will be the venue for the opening match…

The 2022 FIFA World Cup is almost here, and let's face it, excitement levels have gone into overdrive. The curtain raiser will be brought to us from Al Khor's 60000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium on November 20th, when Qatar face off with Ecuador. Had the World Cup taken place a few years ago, many would have expected the hosts to be somewhat of a…

The World Cup kicks off in Qatar, with the hosts making their debut on the global stage against Ecuador. It's a pivotal match in Group A for both teams, as they'll each need to secure three points here. This is because the two group favorites, Netherlands and Senegal, face off against each other. A win for Qatar or Ecuador would put them in a great…

Australia became the first team to collectively criticise Qatar's human rights records in late October, as they released a video which featured 16 players calling for "effective remedy" for migrant workers and the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships. Football Australia released and accompanying statement, which called for reforms in the…

In the latest edition of our blog, we explore some of the contenders for the best player award for the upcoming World Cup. We will assess why they have a chance to claim the 2022 Golden Ball award and what price the bookmakers offer for the player. Although football is a team sport, there are also prestigious individual awards that players can win.…

Uzbekistan will host Costa Rica at the Suwon World Cup Stadium in a friendly on Tuesday (September 27). The hosts are coming off a brilliant qualification campaign for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. They have been regular participants since 1996, with their best performance being a fourth-place finish in 2011. Uzbekistan's outstanding campaign in the…

Bahrain will play host to Cape Verde at Bahrain National Stadium in an international friendly on Friday. Bahrain come into the clash on the back of five consecutive wins - three in the AFC Asian Cup qualification and two in friendlies. They have qualified for the final tournament set for June-July next year. Muharabi Dilmun are not among the…