AFC

Тhe Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the cornerstone of Asian football and a proud member of the global FIFA family. Established in 1954 during the Asian Games in Manila and officially recognized by FIFA in Berne, the AFC has grown to encompass 47 Member Associations from across Asia.

Now based in Kuala Lumpur, the AFC is steered by President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain. In 2016, the AFC unveiled its ambitious Vision and Mission, aiming to position itself as the world's premier football Confederation and elevate Asian football to new global heights. With the mantra 'One Asia, One Goal,' the AFC embodies unity, professionalism, and leadership.

All fans of the Asian football can enjoy the The AFC Champions League and AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 live and exclusive on TrillerTV in selected territories.

The AFC Champions League, often abbreviated as ACL, is the pinnacle of club football in Asia. Organized annually by the Asian Football Confederation, it sees the creme de la creme of Asia's top-division football clubs vying for continental supremacy.

Originating in 1967 as the Asian Champion Club Tournament, the competition underwent a significant transformation in 2002. This rebranding emerged from the merger of the Asian Club Championship, the Asian Cup Winners' Cup, and the Asian Super Cup, forming the renowned ACL we recognize today.

The competition kicks off with an exhilarating group stage, featuring 40 clubs. Automatic berths are awarded to clubs from Asia's strongest leagues, while others battle it out in the qualifying playoffs. The tournament's structure is further enhanced with teams split into East and West zones, progressing independently.

The group stage is dissected into ten groups, ensuring teams from the same country avoid each other. Teams clash home and away in a round-robin format, with group winners and the best runners-up advancing to the knockout stages.

In the knockout phase, teams from the same zone face off, adhering to the away goals rule. In case of ties, extra time and, if required, a penalty shootout determine the victor. This format persists until the grand finale, where East meets West.

Earning the ACL title grants entry to the FIFA Club World Cup, adding another feather to the champion's cap. Al-Hilal leads the charts with four titles, while the Urawa Red Diamonds clinched the 2022 edition by defeating Al-Hilal.

With its rich history, rigorous competition, and continental prestige, the AFC Champions League continues to be a monumental stage where Asia's footballing giants lock horns.

The AFC Asian Cup is the primary association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), determining the continental champion of Asia. It is the second oldest continental football championship in the world after Copa América. The winning team becomes the champion of Asia and until 2015 qualified for the FIFA Confederations Cup.

Dominance in the Cup has often been held by a select few, with South Korea and Iran leading early victories, while Japan and Saudi Arabia have claimed the majority of titles since 1984. The Cup has also celebrated other champions such as Qatar (2019), Australia (2015), Iraq (2007), and Kuwait (1980), with Israel's 1964 win preceding their move to UEFA.

Australia's entry to the Asian confederation in 2007 brought fresh vigor, culminating in their 2015 Asian Cup triumph. The tournament's expansion in 2019 to 24 teams signified a new era of competition and doubled as a qualifier for the FIFA World Cup.

The Cup unfolds in two thrilling stages: the group play, where each team competes in a quartet, striving to be the group's top or runner-up, or one of the best third-placed teams to advance. The knockout phase then sparks a fierce single-elimination chase from the round of 16 to the grand finale.

Mark your calendars for the AFC Asian Cup, where football's finest moments are etched into history!