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Michael Church
Vissel Kobe's Daiju Sasaki (far right) is congratulated after scoring in the second half of his team's Asian Champions League Elite clash against Gwangju on Tuesday in Kobe.
SOCCER
Nov 6, 2024
Kobe ends Gwangju's perfect start to go top in Asian Champions League
Taisei Miyashiro and Daiju Sasaki struck to snap the South Korean side's three-game winning streak.
Qatar forward Akram Afif speaks during a news conference after being named the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year in Seoul on Tuesday.
SOCCER
Oct 30, 2024
Akram Afif driven to make history after securing second Asian crown
Afif joined Japan's Hidetoshi Nakata and Server Djeparov of Uzbekistan as the only players to win the Asian Football Confederation's top accolade twice.
Yokohama F. Marinos' Anderson Lopes celebrates a goal during a match earlier this year. The Brazilian helped his side earn a draw on Tuesday against Shandong Taishan.
SOCCER
Oct 23, 2024
Gwangju stays perfect in Asian Champions League as Yokohama F. Marinos earn draw
Gwangju's win was confirmed with two minutes remaining when Johor Darul Ta'zim's JDT's South Korean defender Park Jun-heong put the ball in his own net.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu prior to a World Cup qualifying match against Australia on Tuesday in Saitama.
SOCCER
Oct 16, 2024
Hajime Moriyasu frustrated after Australia end Japan's winning run
Japan had won all nine of their preliminaries for the 2026 tournament without conceding a goal until Shogo Taniguchi sliced the ball into his own net on Tuesday.
Anderson Lopes of Yokohama F. Marinos scores in an Asian Champions League clash against Ulsan HD at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Oct 2, 2024
Marinos put ACL campaign back on track with Ulsan thrashing
"Scoring four goals and a clean sheet at home, I'm very happy and it's a good way to push on," said interim coach John Hutchinson.
Samurai Blue players celebrate after Wataru Endo's opening goal of the team's World Cup qualifying win over China on Thursday in Saitama.
SOCCER / World cup
Sep 6, 2024
Japan hammers China as next round of World Cup qualifying begins
Japan was in blistering form as Samurai Blue handed out an embarrassing defeat to an out-classed China.
Al Ain players and coaches celebrate after winning the AFC Champions League final over Yokohama F. Marinos on May 25.
SOCCER
Jun 19, 2024
New Asian champions to earn $12 million in club competition revamp
The new competition, which kicks off with a preliminary round in August, is at the heart of a major revamp of club soccer across the continent.
Urawa Reds Ladies celebrate winning the Asian club title last month over South Korean side Hyundai Steel Red Angels.
SOCCER
Jun 14, 2024
Asian Women's Champions League to launch in August with $1.3 million first prize
One club each from 22 countries across the continent will play in the new competition, including reigning Asian Women's Club Championship winners Urawa Reds Ladies.
South Korea's Son Heung-min (right) fights for the ball with China's Yang Zexiang during a World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday in Seoul.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 12, 2024
China keeps World Cup qualifying hopes alive despite South Korea defeat
Japan, meanwhile, cruised past Syria as it completed its dominance of Group B.
Yokohama's forward Ryo Miyaichi (front) jumps for a header with Ain's Guinean midfielder Abdoul Karim Traore (behind) during the AFC Champions League final first-leg football match at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, on May 11.
SOCCER / J. League
May 24, 2024
Ryo Miyaichi focused as Marinos set sights on Asian Champions League crown
Marinos are seeking to become the fourth Japanese winner in the last seven seasons of the championship.
Yokohama F Marinos manager Kevin Muscat (center) celebrates with his players after their third goal against China's Shandong Taishan in an Asian Champions League Group G match at Yokohama's Nissan Stadium on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Dec 13, 2023
Yokohama beats Shandong to book Asian Champions League last-16 spot
The last-16 lineup also features Japan's Ventforet Kofu and Kawasaki Frontale.
Urawa Reds midfielder Kaito Yasui takes aim at the Hanoi FC goal during his club's road defeat at the hands of the Vietnamese side on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Dec 7, 2023
Title holders Urawa Reds dumped out of Asian Champions League
An 87th minute penalty condemned Maciej Skorza's side to defeat when they needed a win to have any hope of advancing.
Kawasaki's Kyohei Noborizato (left) fights for the ball with Pathum United's Danilo during their Asian Champions League match on Tuesday in Kawasaki.
SOCCER
Nov 8, 2023
Second-half goals see Kawasaki stay perfect in Asian Champions League
The win has Kawasaki Frontale a step closer to the Asian Champions League last 16.
Afghanistan finished fifth in its Asian qualifying group for the 2022 FIFA World Cup before failing to reach the 2023 Asian Cup.
SOCCER
Oct 11, 2023
'We're not monsters,' says Afghanistan coach ahead of WC qualifiers
Coach Abdullah Al-Mutairi is targeting a berth in the 2027 Asian Cup.

Longform

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A boom for business tourism in Japan?