Latest news with #AsianFootballConfederation
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Visa Champions the Future of Women's Football as AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Official Global Supporter
SINGAPORE, July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has announced its partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ as its Official Global Supporter. This marks the first partnership between Visa and AFC Women's Asian Cup, further building on Visa's long history of commitment towards the growth in women's football. Hosted in Australia, the matches will be played in five stadiums across three cities with the top 12 national teams. The semi-finalists from this 27-match tournament will directly qualify for FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil, while quarter-finalists will advance to the qualifying rounds for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Danielle Jin, Chief Marketing Officer, Asia Pacific, Visa, said, "At Visa, we believe in the power of sports to inspire, unite, and drive progress. Our partnership with the AFC Women's Asian Cup reaffirms our commitment to inspiring the next generation of female athletes. As we have seen from the record-breaking momentum of women's football, the future of the game is bright, and we are proud to be part of that journey." Women's Football Fuels Regional Growth in Sports Tourism Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing sports tourism region globally, projected to reach USD491.7 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 18.4% [1]. Markets like Australia, China, India, Japan and Singapore are seeing rising participation and viewership, driven by increased regional demand for live sporting events – especially football. AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: "We are delighted to announce the expansion of our partnership with Visa, who we now welcome as an Official Global Supporter of the Continent's premier women's national team competition. The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ aims to be the greatest ever edition in the tournament's history, and we look forward to working in close collaboration with Visa to realise our shared ambitions for the growth and empowerment of the women's game across Asia." Visa is one of the world's most active sponsors of women's football; it is the first ever standalone sponsor of UEFA Women's Football in a seven-year deal running from 2018 until 2025, and the first Global FIFA Women's Football Partner. Pre-sale Ticket access for Visa cardholders Pre-sale ticket access opens exclusively to Visa cardholders today, Friday, July 18 at 8:00 AM SGT, with general sales beginning Friday, July 25 at 8:00 AM SGT via Ticketmaster - womenasiancup2026. About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at
Malaysian Reserve
2 days ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Visa Champions the Future of Women's Football as AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ Official Global Supporter
SINGAPORE, July 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has announced its partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ as its Official Global Supporter. This marks the first partnership between Visa and AFC Women's Asian Cup, further building on Visa's long history of commitment towards the growth in women's football. Hosted in Australia, the matches will be played in five stadiums across three cities with the top 12 national teams. The semi-finalists from this 27-match tournament will directly qualify for FIFA Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil, while quarter-finalists will advance to the qualifying rounds for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Danielle Jin, Chief Marketing Officer, Asia Pacific, Visa, said, 'At Visa, we believe in the power of sports to inspire, unite, and drive progress. Our partnership with the AFC Women's Asian Cup reaffirms our commitment to inspiring the next generation of female athletes. As we have seen from the record-breaking momentum of women's football, the future of the game is bright, and we are proud to be part of that journey.' Women's Football Fuels Regional Growth in Sports Tourism Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing sports tourism region globally, projected to reach USD491.7 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 18.4%[1]. Markets like Australia, China, India, Japan and Singapore are seeing rising participation and viewership, driven by increased regional demand for live sporting events – especially football. AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: 'We are delighted to announce the expansion of our partnership with Visa, who we now welcome as an Official Global Supporter of the Continent's premier women's national team competition. The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026™ aims to be the greatest ever edition in the tournament's history, and we look forward to working in close collaboration with Visa to realise our shared ambitions for the growth and empowerment of the women's game across Asia.' Visa is one of the world's most active sponsors of women's football; it is the first ever standalone sponsor of UEFA Women's Football in a seven-year deal running from 2018 until 2025, and the first Global FIFA Women's Football Partner. Pre-sale Ticket access for Visa cardholders Pre-sale ticket access opens exclusively to Visa cardholders today, Friday, July 18 at 8:00 AM SGT, with general sales beginning Friday, July 25 at 8:00 AM SGT via Ticketmaster – womenasiancup2026. [1] Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) – Asia Pacific Sports Tourism Market Size & Outlook, 2030 ### About VisaVisa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at
Muscat Daily
3 days ago
- Sport
- Muscat Daily
Oman to face Qatar and UAE in World Cup Qualifiers in October
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – The draw for the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 placed the Oman national football team in Group A alongside Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The draw was held at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Group A matches will be hosted by Qatar in a single-stage league format from October 8 to 14, 2025. Group B, hosted by Saudi Arabia, will include Iraq and Indonesia. The six teams were divided into two groups of three, with only the top team in each group qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup finals, joining six Asian teams that have already secured their spots. The second-placed teams from each group will face off in a two-legged playoff on November 13 and 18. The winner will advance to the intercontinental playoff, competing for an additional World Cup berth. An additional draw decided that the runner-up of Group A will host the first leg of the playoff.
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Sport
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia draw Iraq and Indonesia in 2026 World Cup Asian play-off group
Saudi Gazette report KUALA LUMPUR — The Asian Football Confederation on Thursday held the draw for the final play-off round of 2026 World Cup qualification, placing Saudi Arabia in Group B alongside Iraq and Indonesia. Six teams are competing for two remaining direct slots to the expanded 48-team World Cup, joining the six Asian nations that already secured qualification in the previous round: Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Saudi Arabia, placed in Pot 1 alongside Qatar, will begin their Group B campaign against Indonesia on October 8, followed by a crucial clash with Iraq on October 14. Group A features Qatar, the UAE, and Oman. Only the top team in each group will secure direct qualification. The second-placed teams will face off in a single elimination match, with the winner advancing to the intercontinental play-off for a final shot at draw was conducted at AFC headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with team representatives in was presided over by Timur Kapadze, who recently led Uzbekistan to their first-ever World Cup final play-off round offers a last opportunity for regional powerhouses like Saudi Arabia to secure a spot at the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Kluivert's Indonesia to face Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualifying
KUALA LUMPUR: Patrick Kuivert's Indonesia were on Thursday handed a tough draw for the final round of Asian qualifying as they try to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1938. Coached by former Barcelona star and Dutch great Kluivert, Indonesia will play hosts Saudi Arabia and Iraq in Group B of the fourth round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 finals. Qatar will host Group A and face the United Arab Emirates and Oman after the six-team draw took place at the Asian Football Confederation's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. Matches in both groups will be played in a single round-robin format in October in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The two group winners will join the six Asian nations already qualified for next year's global showpiece in Mexico, the United States and Canada. The two second-placed teams will meet in November, with the winner over two legs entering an intercontinental playoff for the final spot at the 48-team World Cup. Indonesia have embarked on a recruitment drive of Dutch-born players and backroom staff to bolster their bid for a first World Cup finals berth since becoming an independent nation. Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan, was in February appointed technical adviser to the Football Association of Indonesia to work alongside Kluivert. Indonesia last qualified for a World Cup while still under Dutch colonial rule and lost 6-0 to Hungary in their only match of that tournament, hosted by France. They will face a difficult task against Middle East giants Saudi Arabia, who have home advantage and will be heavily favoured to top Group B. The Saudis have qualified for the World Cup on seven previous occasions including the last two editions. Iraq have only qualified once in their history, in 1986. Qatar hosted the last World Cup in 2022 on their only appearance in the finals and will be favourites to top Group A at home. The United Arab Emirates reached the World Cup one time, in 1990, while Oman have never qualified. Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation.
