Kuala Lumpur
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Sunday announced its decision to introduce an AFC Nations League, a new competition aimed at enhancing the quality and competitiveness of international football among its member associations.
The proposed tournament is inspired by UEFA’s Nations League, which was launched in 2018 and organizes European national teams into different divisions based on rankings, allowing them to compete against similarly matched opponents during FIFA international windows.
The AFC’s announcement comes a day after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revealed plans to roll out its own Nations League-style competition in 2029, reflecting a growing global shift toward structured international tournaments.
In a statement, the AFC said that effectively utilizing FIFA international match windows has become increasingly difficult due to challenges such as limited availability of opponents, escalating operational costs, and logistical constraints. These factors, the confederation noted, have often reduced the overall sporting value of international fixtures.
“Following a comprehensive internal review and consultation process, the confederation has decided, in principle, to introduce an AFC Nations League,” the statement said.
UEFA’s Nations League was designed to replace many low-stakes friendly matches with competitive games, allowing teams to face opponents of similar strength. The system has helped improve match quality while also providing additional pathways for qualification to major tournaments such as the European Championship and the World Cup, particularly benefiting lower-ranked nations.
The AFC said details regarding the format, structure, timeline, and implementation of the proposed Nations League will be announced at a later stage, following further consultations with key stakeholders across Asian football.
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The initiative is expected to play a significant role in strengthening international competition within Asia and raising the overall standard of the game across the continent.
