FIFA.com - News

Progressing Tajiks enjoy all-time high

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:50:00 GMT

Tajikistan is enjoying an impressive 40 place leap in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking following the landlocked nation's impressive showing in the qualifiers for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup in March.

Croatia and Ecuador on the up

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:00:00 GMT

The April edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking sees movement within the top ten, as Ecuador enter for the first time and Croatia climb to their highest position since 1998.

Tough draw for Chinese champions

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:33:00 GMT

Guangzhou Evergrande have been placed in a group containing Jeonbuk Motors and Urawa Red Diamonds when the 2013 AFC Champions League draw was made today.

What is international football’s biggest rivalry?

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:36:00 GMT

FIFA.com wants to know what you feel is the biggest rivalry in the international game.

Bobrov spurs Soviets to dream comeback

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 03:29:00 GMT

Exactly sixty years ago, Yugoslavia led Soviet Union 5-1 with just 15 minutes remaining in their fight for a place in the Olympic quarter-finals. Thereafter, though, Vsevolod Bobrov inspired one of the greatest fightbacks in football history.

AFC's finest chasing Thailand 2012 places

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:30:00 GMT

Four tickets to the FIFA Futsal World Cup will be up for grabs when Asia's 16 best sides meet in the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship this week. FIFA.com previews the tournament.

Hard-won redemption for Korea DPR

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 04:28:00 GMT

Korea DPR put aside their early exit from Brazil 2014 qualifying to claim the AFC Challenge Cup. FIFA.com reviews the action from Asia’s second-tier tournament that was also marked by the emergence of Palestine and Philippines.

Ten left standing as Saudis, Bahrain fall

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:25:00 GMT

Qatar snatched a draw in Iran and a place in the final phase of Asian Zone qualifying at the expense of Bahrain, while Oman went through thanks to Saudi Arabia’s collapse in Australia and Korea Republic and Lebanon completed the last ten.

Asian hopefuls face moment of truth

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:45:00 GMT

Asia's concluding Round Three matchday sees eight nations hunting four remaining berths with continental elite Korea Republic still not safe as outsiders such as Lebanon, Thailand and Oman seek breakthrough success.

Asia's top guns ready to fire

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:28:00 GMT

Eight Asian teams remain in contention for four remaining berths to Round Four of Brazil 2014 qualifying and some veteran goalscorers are aiming to rise to the occasion.

Uzbekistan FA and players sanctioned by FIFA Disciplinary Committee

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:07:00 GMT

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has sanctioned five Uzbekistan national team players and the Uzbekistan FA following a match played in round three of the AFC preliminary competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™.

Four spots left in Asia

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:18:00 GMT

The window of opportunity to reach the next stage of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualification continues to get smaller in Asia, with only four berths remaining after Australia, Iran and Iraq all sealed their passage.

Three through, five out in Asia

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:07:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews a matchday on which Japan, Uzbekistan and Jordan sealed berths in the fourth round and the hopes of Indonesia, Korea DPR, Singapore, Tajikistan and United Arab Emirates were ended.

Japan scorers discuss Dushanbe goals

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:56:00 GMT

Shinji Okazaki has praised the creativity of his team-mates following his brace in Tajikistan, while Yasuyuki Konno has spoken about his first international goal in Japan’s 4-0 win.

Japan put four past Tajikistan

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:49:00 GMT

Japan moved a step closer to the next round of Asian qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as Alberto Zaccheroni's side enjoyed a 4-0 triumph against Tajikistan.

Quartet well placed, five stare at abyss

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 07:49:00 GMT

FIFA.com previews Friday’s Brazil 2014 qualifiers in Asia where four nations can sew up their passage to the next stage, including what would be a historic moment for Jordan.

China's Brazil dreams on a knife-edge

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 06:56:00 GMT

Asian qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ continues on Friday with China PR on the brink of elimination, while the continent's elite are well placed with two further matchdays to come.

Asian heavyweights nearly there

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:53:00 GMT

Asia’s top sides ran riot today in qualifying for Brazil 2014, with Japan going goal crazy against the Tajiks while Australia and Iran also had comfortable evenings.

Japan hit eight in rout of Tajikistan

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:26:00 GMT

Mike Havenaar scored his first international goals, a headed double, to help Japan beat Tajikistan 8-0 and stay top of Group C on seven points from three matches.

Asian favourites seek dominance

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:28:00 GMT

The halfway mark of Asia’s third qualifying round for Brazil 2014 features a number of potentially decisive match-ups with Iran against Bahrain, and China's match-up with Iraq, amongst the highlights.

Favourites shocked across Asia

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:00:00 GMT

It was a night of shocks and surprises in Asian qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup as China lost out and Japan, Korea Republic and Iran were all held to draws.

Test two for Asian hopefuls

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 10:24:00 GMT

With Australia in Saudi Arabia, Japan visiting Uzbekistan and Iran making the trip to Qatar, FIFA.com previews Matchday 2 in the third round of Asian Zone qualifying for Brazil 2014.

Australia, Japan seal late victories

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:39:00 GMT

Australia and Japan snatched late winners over Thailand and Korea DPR respectively, while Korea Republic eased past Lebanon in their 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying matches.

Syria disqualified from 2014 FIFA World Cup

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:53:00 GMT

FIFA have confirmed that the Syrian football team has been disqualified from the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, and that Tajikistan is thereby reinstated into the competition.

Favourites prevail in Asian qualifiers

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:27:00 GMT

Singapore celebrated, while China PR were among the biggest winners as the final places in Asia's third round of FIFA World Cup qualifiers were decided. FIFA.com rounds up the action.

China score six, Saudis hit five

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:56:00 GMT

Asia's big guns in the preliminary qualification for 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ saw their names make it into Saturday's Preliminary Draw with big wins as Saudi Arabia and China scored five and six apiece.

Asian hopefuls in do or die deciders

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:42:00 GMT

Asia's second round of qualifiers reaching a climax today, with no fewer than 30 sides battling it out on the road to 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. You can follow the action live on FIFA.com.

Asian favourites draw first blood

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:00:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews the latest round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying in Asia, which saw the traditional favourites take an advantage over their underdog opponents.

Thirty hopefuls begin road to round three

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:55:00 GMT

Some intriguing second round, first legs are in store, with Kuwait-Philippines, Qatar-Vietnam, Singapore-Malaysia and United Arab Emirates-India catching the eye.

Leaders stumble as chasers close in

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 11:56:00 GMT

Leaders around Asia suffered surprise results this weekend as the chase for domestic silverware hots up, with the J-League's Kashiwa Reysol being stunned 5-0 and K-League front-runners Jeonbuk Motors drawing 2-2.

Brazil 2014 draw stirs Asian hopefuls

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:02:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews the Asian qualifying draw for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ which has thrown up a host of intriguing match-ups as some of the continents smaller footballing nations seek a share of the spotlight.

Asia's Brazil 2014 draw made

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 11:26:00 GMT

The AFC has conducted the draw for Asia’s first and second round qualifiers for Brazil 2014.

Asian Zone to play preliminary round for Brazil 2014

Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:38:00 GMT

The members of the Asian Football Confederation are gearing up to begin the race for FIFA World Cup™ in Brazil, with the draw for qualification set to take place on 30 March in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Dominant Dushanbe revel in record run

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:00:00 GMT

FIFA.com takes a look at Istiqlol Dushanbe, who may not be well-known but have just set a record which makes them the team with the longest current unbeaten run in world football.

Fresh feats and five-star shows

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 04:23:00 GMT

Iker Casillas set an unwanted new record and Dimitar Berbatov joined an elite club during a week that concluded an extraordinary league campaign in Tajikistan and provided an unprecedented situation in Bolivia.

Record-breaking wins and remarkable runs

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 07:54:00 GMT

Record-breaking wins for Celtic and Marseille feature in this week’s statistical review, along with Rosenborg finishing an entire league campaign unbeaten and the continuation of Atletico Madrid’s misery in the capital derby.

Spot on for Korea DPR

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:46:00 GMT

South Africa 2010 finalists North Korea qualified for next year's Asian Cup after edging out Turkmenistan to win the Challenge Cup on penalties.

Tajiks out to continue rise

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:36:00 GMT

Tajikistan enter the AFC Challenge Cup later this month on the back of recent solid form and with aspirations of repeating their 2006 success story.

Beach soccer lays roots in Dubai

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:31:00 GMT

November 2009 will go down as a historic date for beach soccer in Dubai, with minds now focused on developing the discipline in the UAE.

Blue Eagles set to soar

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:29:00 GMT

A low-profile addition to the Asian Football Confederation, Kyrgyzstan have shown signs of progress with a 17-place rise in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

Gamba and United stay in pole

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:35:00 GMT

Gamba Osaka and Adelaide United stayed in pole postion to claim their group's ticket to the last eight, while Beijing Guoan kept their hopes alive.

Heavy blows for Asian giants

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:25:00 GMT

Surprise results were on the menu in Asia as Japan and Saudi Arabia were both beaten on a Wednesday full of thrills and spills.

Big wins in Asia

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 13:58:00 GMT

Gamba Osaka came out on top of a seven-goal thriller on Wednesday while J-League champions Kashima Antlers strolled to another huge victory.

Asian route marked out

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:42:00 GMT

Asia's FIFA World Cup preliminaries have been decided, with the continent's big five set to start with home fixtures against the groups' underdogs.

Asia's ups and downs

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 11:51:00 GMT

The Asian confederation has produced more than its fair share of joy and drama in FIFA World Cup qualifying down through the years.

Quartet complete Asian line-up

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:21:13 GMT

The 20-team field for the third round of Asian Zone qualifying was completed by Singapore, Syria, Thailand and Turkmenistan on Sunday.

Quartet set to complete field

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 09:28:00 GMT

With the final four places in the third round of Asian Zone qualifying available, four crucial second round, second legs are set to take place.

Syria and Singapore excel

Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:29:00 GMT

Syria and Singapore put one foot in the third round of Asian Zone qualifying for South Africa 2010, while two other ties remain evenly poised.

Octet strive to continue

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:14:33 GMT

Eight teams will strive to put one foot in the third round of Asian qualifying for South Africa 2010 when they play their second round, first legs.

Favourites clear first hurdle

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:25:00 GMT

Despite some courageous underdog attempts, the favourites all completed aggregate wins to clear the first hurdle in the race to South Africa 2010.