AFC to further invest in Women’s Asian Cup and Champions League by increasing teams
The Asian Football Confederation has decided that it will commence the new era of national and club team football by further investing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the AFC Champions League. The Champions League will be expanded to 40 clubs while the Women’s Asian Cup will see 12 teams.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has decided that it will mark the beginning of a new era of national and club team football by further investing in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup and the AFC Champions League.
The longest-serving AFC vice-president and Fifa Council member, Saoud Al Mohannadi chaired the second AFC Executive Committee meeting of the 2019-’2023 cycle, chaired in the absence of president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, where it was decided in favour of the growth of the two competitions.
From the 2021 season, an extra group of four will be added to the AFC Champions League in both the East and West zones. It will be expanded to 40 clubs and it will further grow the reputation of one of the richest Continental club competitions in the world. This expansion will take place without disturbing the existing slots for the top six Member Associations.
In 2022, the AFC Women's Asian Cup will have 12 participants instead of the eight that took part in the previous edition in Jordan. At present, the AFC has proposals from Chinese Taipei, India, and Uzbekistan to host the tournament and with the added four teams, there will be further opportunities for more players, teams, and Members Associations.
In his message to the committee, delivered by Saoud Al Mohannadi, the AFC President said: “As you know we have always looked to grow the women’s game in Asia with new initiatives and that has been rewarded by world champions in Fifa competitions at every level.
“We were the first Confederation to have at least five women ExCo Members and one of the few to appoint a woman referee to men’s competitions in the AFC Cup.
“And one of our Executive Members, Kanya Keomany, will be the first female match commissioner to be appointed for a men’s club competition final - the AFC Cup final at the start of next month.
He described the new upcoming era as the "era of excellence." The Executive Committee asked the Administration to develop the new competitions and also to review and recommend updates to the AFC Statutes in the continued delivery of good governance.
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