The Asian Game

We have our first official qualifier for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026, and it's a nation few would have expected - Bangladesh. Hosts Gina Bagnulo and Anirudh Nair discuss their historic qualification, plus take a look back on all of the other action from this week's matches and look ahead to the final round of matches that will determine which other nations will join Bangladesh in Australia next...

Hosts Gina Bagnulo and Anirudh Nair take a look at the state of play after the first two matchdays of qualifying for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026. Which teams have impressed? Who still has work to do? And what might the rest of qualifying have in store? We answer those questions plus many more as we look to decide the final eight teams to qualify for next year's showpiece event. Follow Gina Bagn...

Following the journey of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers,  From Dreams to Goals  takes you deep behind the headlines to explore the stories from nations aspiring to qualify for the tournament in Australia next year. Each week  From Dreams to Goals will focus on delving deep and telling the story of women's football in countries from Saudi Arabia to India, from Indonesia to Nepal and everywher...

After 217 matches and 613 goals, we've almost reached the conclusion of FIFA World Cup qualifying for 2026, with just the small matter of the Fourth and the Fifth Rounds to come. We are joined by the founder of Futbol Palestine, Bassil Mikdadi, to dissect the wild and controversial final finish to the Third Round of Asian Qualifiers. Was Palestine robbed? Uzbekistan banish past demons Jordan set f...

Following the journey of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers,  From Dreams to Goals  takes you deep behind the headlines to explore the stories from nations aspiring to qualify for the tournament in Australia next year. Each week  From Dreams to Goals will focus on delving deep and telling the story of women's football in countries from Saudi Arabia to India, from Indonesia to Nepal and everywher...

Australia have one foot at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a stunning and dramatic 1-0 win over Japan at Perth Stadium on Thursday night. Aziz Behich's 90th minute screamer broke a 16-year-drought against Japan and ensures Australia's destiny remains in their own hands should Saudi Arabia defeat Bahrain. Paul Williams is in Perth with Japanese journalist Sean Carroll to bring us all the action, whil...

Following the journey of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers,  From Dreams to Goals  takes you deep behind the headlines to explore the stories from nations aspiring to qualify for the tournament in Australia next year. Each week  From Dreams to Goals  will focus on delving deep and telling the story of women's football in countries from Saudi Arabia to India, from Indonesia to Nepal and everywhe...

Following the journey of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers,  From Dreams to Goals  takes you deep behind the headlines to explore the stories from nations aspiring to qualify for the tournament in Australia next year. Each week  From Dreams to Goals will focus on delving deep and telling the story of women's football in countries from Saudi Arabia to India, from Indonesia to Nepal and everywher...

Ryan Walters and Michael Church bring you pitchside reactions from an unforgettable Shopee Cup Final, where Buriram United and Công An Hà Nội FC played out a thrilling 3-3 draw that went the distance — all the way to a dramatic penalty shootout. From Jason Pendant's early silky finish to Lucas Crispim's breathtaking stoppage-time free kick, this match had everything: lead changes, late drama, and...

Following the journey of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers,  From Dreams to Goals takes you deep behind the headlines to explore the stories from nations aspiring to qualify for the tournament in Australia next year. Each week  From Dreams to Goals will focus on delving deep and telling the story of women's football in countries from Saudi Arabia to India, from Indonesia to Nepal and everywhere...

We are joined by Rhysh Roshan Rai in Singapore and Sultan Al Ali in Sharjah to look ahead to this weekend's AFC Champions League Two final between Lion City Sailors and Sharjah FC, and look at what the final means for the respective clubs. We also discuss Graham Arnold's shock announcement as the new coach of Iraq, while we also speak with Peter Koo, the general manager of the Cambodian Premier Le...

Ryan Walters reports from Hanoi where the 2024–25 Shopee Cup Final kicks off with a familiar matchup: Cong An Ha Noi vs. Buriram United - just like on matchday one, when CAHN edged a 2–1 win. With both sides having undergone several changes since then, and Thai superstar Suphanat Mueanta missing for Buriram, this is set to be a different encounter entirely. Hear directly from head coaches Mano Pol...

Turkmenistan's FK Arkadag are Asian champions after winning the inaugural edition of the AFC Challenge League after defeating Svay Rieng in front of more than 50,000 fans in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. But who are the club from one of Asia's most secretive and reclusive nations? We dip back into the TAG archives to Episode 195 from December 2023 when we spoke with Peter Leonard from Eurasia...

Following the journey of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers,  From Dreams to Goals  takes you deep behind the headlines to explore the stories from nations aspiring to qualify for the tournament in Australia next year. Each week  From Dreams to Goals  will focus on delving deep and telling the story of women's football in countries from Saudi Arabia to India, from Indonesia to Nepal and everywhe...

Al Ahli are the Kings of Asia after a 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale in the final of the AFC Champions League Elite in Jeddah. Michael Church reports from the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium just moments after full-time, and we hear from Al Ahli's superstar midfielder Riyad Mahrez who describes his happiness at the win and declared: "We are the best team in Asia!" Be sure to follow The Asian Gam...

Following the journey of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers,  From Dreams to Goals takes you deep behind the headlines to explore the stories from nations aspiring to qualify for the tournament in Australia next year. Each week  From Dreams to Goals will focus on delving deep and telling the story of women's football in countries from Saudi Arabia to India, from Indonesia to Nepal and everywhere...

With the AFC Champions League Elite Final less than 48 hours away, we have you covered with the ultimate preview of Asia's showpiece event. Paul Williams and Michael Church, who is in Jeddah for the tournament, are joined by Sean Carroll from Tokyo, and Mohammed Fayad from Riyadh, to analyse and dissect the two teams - Kawasaki Frontale and Al Ahli - as we look at the tactics that have helped them...

Kawasaki Frontale has produced one of the great upsets in the AFC Champions League Elite by stunning Al Nassr 3-2 in the semi-final. Given little chance by most before the game against a side featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Jhon Duran and Marcelo Brozovic, the Japanese side silenced the home crowd to book their place in the final against Al Ahli. Michael Church reports from the King Abdul...

On a famous night for Al Ahli, the Jeddah-based club secured their spot in the AFC Champions League Elite Final after a big 3-1 win over Al Hilal. Michael Church reports from the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium after one of the great ACL Elite semi-final matches. PLUS... we hear a few words from goalscorer Ivan Toney after the game. Be sure to follow The Asian Game on all our social media channe...

The final four of this year's AFC Champions League Elite is set after Kawasaki Frontale booked their place with a win over Qatar's Al Sadd. Having taken the lead twice, only to be pegged back, Kawasaki were forced to extra time but a 98th minute strike from Yasuto Wakizaka sealed the deal and sets up an enticing clash with Saudi powerhouse Al Nassr. Michael Church reports from Jeddah after the gam...

It was another day of Saudi domination at the AFC Champions League Elite Finals in Jeddah. Michael Church reports from the Saudi city after home side Al Ahli eased their way into a semi-final match up with Al Hilal after disposing of Thai side Buriram United with relative ease. While in the second game of the day, Al Nassr made light work of J.League outfit Yokohama F.Marinos to book their place i...

The AFC Champions League Elite Finals are underway and it's the four-time Asian champions Al Hilal who have put down an early marker with an emphatic 7-0 demolition of K League side Gwangju FC. Michael Church was at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah to watch all the action and provided this report on a night in which Al Hilal reminded everyone of why they are 'Asia's Leader'. Be sure...

Gina Bagnulo and Anirudh Nair return with another instalment of From Dreams to Goals and this week they're looking at the history of the AFC Women's Asian Cup and history of women's football in Asia more broadly. From exploring the early tournaments, to unpacking the broader cultural issues facing women's football in Asia, we explore why From Dreams to Goals is important for shining a light on the...

All roads lead to Jeddah as Asia's best eight teams converge on the coastal city for a showcase of Asian football. With the continental spotlight on the AFC Champions League Elite over the next two weeks, we have you covered with the ultimate preview. With Michael Church in Jeddah, we discuss all the major talking points including whether the format itself will be a success, the advantage of playi...

Following the journey of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers,  From Dreams to Goals  takes you deep behind the headlines to explore the stories from nations aspiring to qualify for the tournament in Australia next year. Each week  From Dreams to Goals  will focus on delving deep and telling the story of women's football in countries from Saudi Arabia to India, from Indonesia to Nepal and everywhe...