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Central Asia Bids to Host AFC Asian Cup 2031 in Historic First

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Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic have officially submitted a joint bid to host the AFC Asian Cup 2031.

This collaborative effort aims to bring the prestigious tournament to Central Asia for the first time, showcasing the region's passion for football and its growing infrastructure capabilities. The joint bid reflects the countries' commitment to promoting football development and fostering regional cooperation.

Central Asia football news
Central Asia Bids to Host AFC Asian Cup 2031 in Historic First
Central Asia Bids to Host AFC Asian Cup 2031 in Historic First

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan & Kyrgyz Republic bid to host AFC Asian Cup 2031, aiming to bring the tournament to Central Asia for the first time.

Venues Confirmed for AFC Champions League Elite Finals 2024/25
Venues Confirmed for AFC Champions League Elite Finals 2024/25

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Chelsea Sign Kazakh Talent Dastan Satpaev in Record-Breaking Deal

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Akram Afif Crowned Best Footballer in Asia 2024
Akram Afif Crowned Best Footballer in Asia 2024

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AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Set to Showcase Asia’s Rising Football Stars
AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Set to Showcase Asia’s Rising Football Stars

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AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 Groups Revealed

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Katanec Resigns as Uzbekistan Head Coach Due to Health

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Abdukodir Khusanov sets for Manchester City in €40m Deal

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AFC U20 Asian Cup: 45 Teams Battle for China 2025

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Global Futsal Fiesta: Uzbekistan 2024 Set to Dazzle

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AFC Asian Cup 2023: Palestine and Qatar will play as Knockout Drama Unfolds
AFC Asian Cup 2023: Palestine and Qatar will play as Knockout Drama Unfolds

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Asian Cup 2023 preview: What to look out for in Qatar

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Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev: The journey of a Tajik warrior

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AFC: Asian club competitions to take place in centralised venues

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Coronavirus Times: Turkmenistan's Dark Games

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Coronavirus Times: Turkmenistan is Business as Usual

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Coronavirus Times: Midweek action in Turkmenistan
Coronavirus Times: Midweek action in Turkmenistan

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Coronavirus Times: Asian Leagues Come and Go

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Coronavirus Times: Farewell Tajikistan, for now

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Coronavirus Times: A Weekend and More in Central Asia

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Coronavirus Times: Turkmenistan Resumes The League

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Featured
Central Asia Bids to Host AFC Asian Cup 2031 in Historic First
Central Asia Bids to Host AFC Asian Cup 2031 in Historic First

Uzbekistan, Tajikistan & Kyrgyz Republic bid to host AFC Asian Cup 2031, aiming to bring the tournament to Central Asia for the first time.

Venues Confirmed for AFC Champions League Elite Finals 2024/25
Venues Confirmed for AFC Champions League Elite Finals 2024/25

Saudi Arabia to host AFC Champions League Elite Finals 2024/25, with record $12M prize and thrilling knockout clashes ahead.

Chelsea Sign Kazakh Talent Dastan Satpaev in Record-Breaking Deal
Chelsea Sign Kazakh Talent Dastan Satpaev in Record-Breaking Deal

Chelsea sign 16-year-old Kazakh striker Dastan Satpaev in a record €4M deal. Another sign of Central Asia's rising football era.

Akram Afif Crowned Best Footballer in Asia 2024
Akram Afif Crowned Best Footballer in Asia 2024

Akram Afif wins Best Footballer in Asia 2024, ending a decade of East Asian dominance in a tight race with Son Heung-min.

AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Set to Showcase Asia’s Rising Football Stars
AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Set to Showcase Asia’s Rising Football Stars

AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 kicks off in China as 16 teams battle for glory and FIFA U-20 World Cup spots. Full schedule and key matchups!

AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 Groups Revealed
AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 Groups Revealed

The stage is set for the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 in Saudi Arabia, with 16 teams vying for glory and World Cup berths.

Katanec Resigns as Uzbekistan Head Coach Due to Health
Katanec Resigns as Uzbekistan Head Coach Due to Health

Srecko Katanec steps down as Uzbekistan coach due to health issues, just months before the team resumes 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Abdukodir Khusanov sets for Manchester City in €40m Deal
Abdukodir Khusanov sets for Manchester City in €40m Deal

Abdukodir Khusanov makes history as the first Uzbek to join the Premier League, completing a €40M transfer from RC Lens to Manchester City.

AFC U20 Asian Cup: 45 Teams Battle for China 2025
AFC U20 Asian Cup: 45 Teams Battle for China 2025

AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers: 45 teams vie for China 2025 spots. Defending champs Uzbekistan face tough competition. Kicks off Sept 21.

Global Futsal Fiesta: Uzbekistan 2024 Set to Dazzle
Global Futsal Fiesta: Uzbekistan 2024 Set to Dazzle

Uzbekistan hosts FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024, featuring 24 teams. First-time Central Asian venue promises thrilling action and global broadcasts.

AFC Asian Cup 2023: Palestine and Qatar will play as Knockout Drama Unfolds
AFC Asian Cup 2023: Palestine and Qatar will play as Knockout Drama Unfolds

Asian Cup 2023: The knockout stage kicked off in Qatar, setting the stage for drama on and off the pitch. From Australia to Tajikistan, two Arab derbies are ready to take place, with Qatar and Palestine the main event.

Asian Cup 2023 preview: What to look out for in Qatar
Asian Cup 2023 preview: What to look out for in Qatar

2023 AFC Asian Cup pocket guide. From Qatar, to the rest of the 24 teams competing.

Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev: The journey of a Tajik warrior
Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev: The journey of a Tajik warrior

Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev is a national football icon in Tajikistan. This year he took his talents to India, where he plies his trade for Chennayin FC from the Indian Super League. Can he open the door for more Tajik footballers in the subcontinent?

AFC: Asian club competitions to take place in centralised venues
AFC: Asian club competitions to take place in centralised venues

AFC Champions League and AFC Cup will take place in centralised venues. The AFC has released a series of decisions regarding the international and club competitions in 2021, among them U16, U19 AFC Championships, and the continent’s most important club competitions.

Europa League in Asia: When football and politics dance
Europa League in Asia: When football and politics dance

With Nagorno-Karabakh in the background, Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted Qarabağ in the Europa League first matchday. With politics surrounding the Azeri team, it was Maccabi who took things to their own control.

Fighting for Nagorno-Karabakh, through Football
Fighting for Nagorno-Karabakh, through Football

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is escalating again. While Azerbaijan and Armenia are trying to fight over the region, they both using football as part of the battle.

Vágner Love is Never Too Old for an Adventure
Vágner Love is Never Too Old for an Adventure

At the age of 36, Vágner Love decided to find a new European adventure. The Brazilian striker is now aiming to win another title, this time in Kazakhstan.

FC Khatlon: The former Cotton Pickers cause a stir in the Tajik title race
FC Khatlon: The former Cotton Pickers cause a stir in the Tajik title race

Like most Central Asian leagues, Tajikstan is controlled by one powerful side. This year, the “cotton pickers” from FC Khatlon are challenging this hegemony, and their story is one to watch out for.

New Vision, Old Obstacles: Uzbekistan Football Returns
New Vision, Old Obstacles: Uzbekistan Football Returns

Uzbek Super League returns. New management that brings new hopes, young talents who start to blossom and one mega club which is not quite prepared for the changes in the settings.

Central Asia's four "Stans": Overlooked and enigmatic, but with a bright future
Central Asia's four "Stans": Overlooked and enigmatic, but with a bright future

From Turkmenistan, across Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan, to powerhouse Uzbekistan - we have a look at the Central Asian region and the current situation of their local football.

Coronavirus Times: Turkmenistan's Dark Games
Coronavirus Times: Turkmenistan's Dark Games

Games broadcasted in a day’s delay, an abandoned match and a screen of uncertainty - all hide the transparency. These should have been the most promising days for Turkmen football. Instead, controversy remains the overwhelming talking point.

Coronavirus Times: Turkmenistan is Business as Usual
Coronavirus Times: Turkmenistan is Business as Usual

After the turbulence incidents of past week, this week’s matches in the Yokary Liga of Turkmenistan resumed the status quo in the table.

When the Yokary Liga is Left Alone in the Region
When the Yokary Liga is Left Alone in the Region

The last active league in Central Asia is falling under stereotypes with some suspicious activity listed in the markets. Martin Lowe is following the heartbeats of the Turkmen primary competition, and he isn’t optimistic.

Coronavirus Times: Midweek action in Turkmenistan
Coronavirus Times: Midweek action in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is the only current Central Asian country to play football. Matchday 6 was played in mid-week, as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down activities in neighboring countries.

Coronavirus Times: Asian Leagues Come and Go
Coronavirus Times: Asian Leagues Come and Go

South Korea and Tajikistan produced opposite announcements of confronting the global pandemic and shed light on the virus behaviour and football’s reaction.

Coronavirus Times: Farewell Tajikistan, for now
Coronavirus Times: Farewell Tajikistan, for now

The Tajikistan Higher League played its final match-day before suspending its activity due to covid-19. From now on, Turkmenistan’s Yokary Liga is the only representative for Central Asian football.

Coronavirus Times: Kuktosh Still Unbeaten in Tajikistan
Coronavirus Times: Kuktosh Still Unbeaten in Tajikistan

Kuktosh began their Tajikistan Higher League season with surprising results, and today they remained unbeaten against Khujand. Is it the beginning of a tremendous season?

Top 5 High-Scoring Matches in AFC Champions League History
Top 5 High-Scoring Matches in AFC Champions League History

Throughout the years, the AFC Champions League, Asian football’s main stage, has produced us high-scoring matches that thrilled millions of fans. Which one of them was the best?

Coronavirus Times: A Weekend and More in Central Asia
Coronavirus Times: A Weekend and More in Central Asia

Turkmenistan Yokary Liga and Tajik Higher League were both active during the past weekend, and Martin Lowe has some insightful comments on both competitions.

Coronavirus Times: Turkmenistan Resumes The League
Coronavirus Times: Turkmenistan Resumes The League

The Yokary Liga, Turkmenistan’s top tier, was suspended a month ago. This weekend, the league is back as the local regime continues to deny and ignore coronavirus.