Asian Cup 2023: The knockout stage kicked off in Qatar, setting the stage for drama on and off the pitch. From Australia to Tajikistan, two Arab derbies are ready to take place, with Qatar and Palestine the main event.

2023 AFC Asian Cup pocket guide. From Qatar, to the rest of the 24 teams competing.

Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev is a national football icon in Tajikistan. This year he took his talents to India, where he plies his trade for Chennayin FC from the Indian Super League. Can he open the door for more Tajik footballers in the subcontinent?

AFC Champions League and AFC Cup will take place in centralised venues. The AFC has released a series of decisions regarding the international and club competitions in 2021, among them U16, U19 AFC Championships, and the continent’s most important club competitions.

With Nagorno-Karabakh in the background, Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted Qarabağ in the Europa League first matchday. With politics surrounding the Azeri team, it was Maccabi who took things to their own control.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is escalating again. While Azerbaijan and Armenia are trying to fight over the region, they both using football as part of the battle.

At the age of 36, Vágner Love decided to find a new European adventure. The Brazilian striker is now aiming to win another title, this time in Kazakhstan.

Like most Central Asian leagues, Tajikstan is controlled by one powerful side. This year, the “cotton pickers” from FC Khatlon are challenging this hegemony, and their story is one to watch out for.

Uzbek Super League returns. New management that brings new hopes, young talents who start to blossom and one mega club which is not quite prepared for the changes in the settings.

From Turkmenistan, across Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan, to powerhouse Uzbekistan - we have a look at the Central Asian region and the current situation of their local football.

Games broadcasted in a day’s delay, an abandoned match and a screen of uncertainty - all hide the transparency. These should have been the most promising days for Turkmen football. Instead, controversy remains the overwhelming talking point.

After the turbulence incidents of past week, this week’s matches in the Yokary Liga of Turkmenistan resumed the status quo in the table.

The last active league in Central Asia is falling under stereotypes with some suspicious activity listed in the markets. Martin Lowe is following the heartbeats of the Turkmen primary competition, and he isn’t optimistic.

Turkmenistan is the only current Central Asian country to play football. Matchday 6 was played in mid-week, as the coronavirus pandemic shuts down activities in neighboring countries.

South Korea and Tajikistan produced opposite announcements of confronting the global pandemic and shed light on the virus behaviour and football’s reaction.

The Tajikistan Higher League played its final match-day before suspending its activity due to covid-19. From now on, Turkmenistan’s Yokary Liga is the only representative for Central Asian football.

Kuktosh began their Tajikistan Higher League season with surprising results, and today they remained unbeaten against Khujand. Is it the beginning of a tremendous season?

Throughout the years, the AFC Champions League, Asian football’s main stage, has produced us high-scoring matches that thrilled millions of fans. Which one of them was the best?

Turkmenistan Yokary Liga and Tajik Higher League were both active during the past weekend, and Martin Lowe has some insightful comments on both competitions.

The Yokary Liga, Turkmenistan’s top tier, was suspended a month ago. This weekend, the league is back as the local regime continues to deny and ignore coronavirus.

The Tajikstan Higher League’s match-day 2 was exciting and intense, as FK Khatlon stole the show after a great away win at Khujand. Istiqlol maintain a tight grip on first place with another win.

The Belarusian Vysheyshaya Liga has a new leader in Torpedo BelAZ, while the Tajikstan league pitted two promoted sides one against another - a recap for all the football played this Saturday.

With every day that passes by, it is becoming clear that coronavirus is here for the long run. Despite the pandemic, in Tajikistan, professional football has been played today.

In four countries football is still played as usual, as the rules ignore the coronavirus. Who are the Presidents that decided to keep everything despite the pandemic?

A rich weekend of Tajik football included an intense Supercup match and a part of the league’s first matchday; Martin Lowe saw Khujand trying hard, but failing to beat the national giant, Istiklol.

While football ceased action around the world, Tajikistan's first division will begin this weekend. Here are all the details you need to know in order to be prepared.

Central Asia sits in a unique situation at the moment; an isolated, unaffected island of calm amid a global pandemic. Only one COVID-19 case has been reported so far in the region, and the leagues are running regularly—Asian football expert, Martin Lowe, with a unique coverage on football away of the virus panic.

The Asian World Cup Qualifiers are among the fascinating competitions in the world. Drama, politics, tears and a bigger picture to look upon and learn. Uri reviews the drama and context of the important goals and moments.

Many cases of sexual and physical abuse are reported in women football, but new steps taken by FIFA in a recent case in Afghanistan might help with reducing these awful incidents and creating a safer environment for women in the beautiful sport.