AFC Member Associations and Regional Associations Presidents’ and General Secretaries’ Conference 2025 concludes with renewed drive for Asian football

—- The AFC Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) Presidents’ and General Secretaries’ Conference 2025 closed today in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with global football leaders and leading industry experts reaffirming their unwavering support of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s ambitions to further uplift the Asian game.

The Conference, hosted by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), featured its final cast of renowned speakers, who shared their knowledge and experience on key aspects of the game.

The three-day Conference, now a key fixture in the AFC calendar, brought together some of the game’s most respected figures, including AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and SAFF President Yasser Hassan M Almisehal.

Heather Garriock, the interim CEO and General Secretary of Football Australia, set the tone for the day with her presentation on the tactical ways in which football functions as a business, which was followed by an intriguing session from Riges Younan, the Global VP of work orchestration platform Gloat on the incorporation of artificial intelligence to enhance the beautiful game.

Meanwhile, Director of Strategy, City Football Group, Patrick Knight, who was the final speaker of the day, took the audience through City Football Group’s global journey and its remarkable evolution into a unified football ecosystem.

Shaikh Salman, in his closing speech, said: “This Conference has once again given us a valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress and, more importantly, to facilitate forward-looking discussions. It has also given us renewed optimism and energy to bring the Asian game to even greater heights.

“The AFC is at a crucial moment in its history, guided by our governance reforms and revamped competitions. As we write this bold and exciting new chapter, we remain dedicated to introducing innovative programmes for our Member Associations and Regional Associations and ushering in a new era where football excellence is driven by the AFC and its members.”

Reflecting on the learning experience over the course of the three days, South Asian Football Federation General Secretary Purushottam Kattel said: “This Conference encapsulates the AFC’s Vision and Mission of becoming a model Confederation and underlines its commitment to advance its MAs and RAs on all fronts. This is the only way Asian football can continue to move forward and set new milestones.”

Meanwhile, East Asian Football Federation General Secretary Yosuke Mihara said the Conference showcased influential speakers capable of bringing about positive change: “The speakers and panellists are of the highest calibre, and their insights and opinions will prove valuable in driving the progress of our MAs and RAs and help them keep abreast of an ever-evolving global football environment.”

To know more, please visit the-AFC.com.

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