AFC President reiterates football’s power to inspire and unite

— The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa reinforced today the Confederation’s commitment towards standing in solidarity with its Member Associations (MAs) and Regional Associations (RAs) at the 7^th AFC Executive Committee meeting held in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Held just hours before the AFC Awards Riyadh 2025, the AFC President commenced the proceedings by conveying his deepest appreciation to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) for their exceptional hosting capabilities.

The Kingdom has been the focal point for Asian football, with the SAFF hosting the AFC Dream Asia Foundation Conference and several committee meetings earlier in the week, as well as the upcoming AFC Member Associations & Regional Associations Presidents’ and General Secretaries’ Conference, which begins on Friday.

The AFC President also acknowledged the recent successes across Asian football, congratulating Qatar and Saudi Arabia for securing their places at the FIFA World Cup 2026 following the conclusion of the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Playoffs Group Stage on Tuesday.

Similarly, Al Hilal SFC’s Quarter-final finish at July’s FIFA Club World Cup and the appointment of an AFC trio of match officials to the Final of the global club showpiece were also singled out for special praise.

Shaikh Salman said: “On behalf of this Committee, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for their warm hospitality and for consistently embodying the cherished values of Asian unity.

“Our Asian teams have continued to perform admirably on the world’s biggest stages – on behalf of the AFC, we convey our heartfelt congratulations to all the teams for sealing their places at the global showpiece next year.”

Taking a moment to reflect on the ongoing challenges faced by several MAs, Shaikh Salman also recognised the wider realities facing the Asian football family.

The AFC President added: “Our gathering here in Riyadh is a reflection of our unity and of the progress we continue to make together. But it also reminds us that football does not exist in isolation. It is shaped by the challenges, struggles, and triumphs of our societies.

“We must stand with our members in tough times to ensure that football remains a force for unity and resilience. I wish to once again express our solidarity with the Palestine FA and extend my deepest sympathies to all the victims in Gaza. While we are all relieved by the recent peace announcement in Gaza, I would like to assure the Palestine FA of our full support as they continue to rebuild their football activities, safeguard their players and officials, and keep the spirit of the game alive under these challenging circumstances.

“I also offer our full support and sympathies to the All Nepal Football Association and the Philippine Football Federation on the ongoing challenges facing their respective countries.

“As we celebrate our collective successes, let us also carry the responsibility of standing with our members in times of hardship — ensuring that football remains a source of hope, resilience, and unity for all.”

Beyond the pitch, Shaikh Salman also reinforced the Confederation’s resolve to deliver more tailor-made programmes to strengthen the professionalism and governance of its MAs and RAs, who continue to benefit from the ever-expanding educational and development programmes introduced in recent months.

Further underlining this, the milestone AFC Equal Pitch Programme and Policy, which was approved by the AFC Development Committee earlier in the week, was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee, as was the AFC Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee’s decision to award the hosting rights of the next two editions of the AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup™ to The Football Association of Thailand.

The AFC President also welcomed the signing of new coach education agreements between the AFC and UEFA which will help raise standards through knowledge sharing and recognising the qualifications of both Confederations. The operational agreement establishes mutual recognition of coaching qualifications between UEFA and the AFC, while the technical agreement sets a framework for knowledge sharing, cooperation, and the exchange of best practices. Both agreements, valid until 2029, mark the result of a two-year consultation process.

The AFC Executive Committee also confirmed that the next edition of the AFC Awards 2026 will be held in Thailand.

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