FC Member Associations and Regional Associations Presidents’ and General Secretaries’ Conference 2026 reinforces unity, inspires growth

—- Asian football’s foremost leaders concluded the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) Presidents’ and General Secretaries’ Conference 2026 on Wednesday with an inspired outlook for the future.

Hosted in Japan for the first time, the fourth edition of the flagship gathering fostered two days of insightful discussions, knowledge-sharing and collaboration among the 120 participants, while reaffirming the AFC’s commitment to empowering its MAs and RAs.

Following an opening day dedicated to leadership and innovation, delegates returned for a final programme that covered sustainability and equality, technology, women’s football, competitions planning, refereeing and the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.

Proceedings kicked off with a presentation titled “The New Frontier: Pioneering the Global Future of Women’s Football” by Michele Kang, Founder of Kynisca, which examined the outlook of the rapidly evolving women’s landscape, drawing from her experience as the owner of women’s clubs Washington Spirit, OL Lyonnes and London City Lionesses.

Hirokazu Abe, AFC Head of Referees Department, followed that by elaborating on strategic investments in referee development, before Craig Hepburn, Chief Executive Officer and Founding Partner of 1706 Studio, built on the previous day’s AI presentation with a practical session that allowed delegates to examine real-world applications of emerging technologies and their myriad potential uses.

The Confederation’s efforts to accelerate the growth of the women’s game throughout the Continent were then outlined by Bai Lili, AFC Head of Women’s Football Development, while Robert Skinner, Chief of Partnerships and Global Engagement at the United Nations, highlighted the ways in which football organisations can harness the power of the game to advance wider social objectives and contribute to sustainable development agendas with the “Beyond the Pitch: Member Associations Leading on the UN’s Football for the Goals Initiative” session.

Jessie Dai Shengying, AFC Head of Competitions Strategy Department, then underscored the importance of detailed planning and regulatory standards in shaping the AFC’s suite of competitions, before Mohammed Q Alghamdi, Director of Media of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Local Organising Committee, capped off the presentations with insight into the preparations for the 19th edition of Asia’s crown jewel.

Ms. Siti Zuraina Abdullah, President of the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam, said: “I have found the past two days to be exceptionally valuable and productive, providing us with an important platform to engage in meaningful discussions on a wide range of subjects that are shaping the future of football. The Conference has provided an excellent opportunity to gain fresh perspectives, exchange ideas and learn from experts whose knowledge and experience will undoubtedly help us strengthen our respective organisations, as it has consistently done over the past Conferences.”

“One of the most valuable aspects of this Conference has been the opportunity to connect with fellow leaders from across Asia and exchange views on our shared challenges, experiences and ambitions,” said Mr. Serdar Geldiyev, General Secretary of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan. “Throughout the Conference, we have seen a powerful spirit of unity, cooperation and mutual respect – a reflection of the strength and potential of the Asian football family. These conversations have gone beyond the exchange of ideas; they have strengthened relationships, broadened our perspective and reinforced our shared commitment to the continued development of the game.

“I return home with renewed motivation and a strong sense of responsibility for the work ahead. The future of Asian football will be shaped by how effectively we come together, share knowledge and turn our common ambitions into action. If we continue to work with unity, vision and determination, there is no limit to what we can achieve for football across our continent and for the generations to come.”

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