With only six spots left for the AFC Asian Cup 2027, the final round of qualifiers are set to begin in March, 2025. The Football Association of Malaysia has also announced their new head coach, Peter Cklamovski, for the national team. 2024 has seen an eventful year for Asian football with many successful tournaments taking place.
AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers and Malaysian Football Developments
The AFC Asian Cup, the pinnacle of international football in Asia, is set for its 19th edition in 2027. With six spots still up for grabs, the final round of qualifiers will commence in March 2025.
Final Round of Asian Cup Qualifiers
The 24 nations that have qualified for the final round of qualifiers will be divided into six groups of four teams. The teams will play each other home and away, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Asian Cup.
Malaysia's New Head Coach
In preparation for the qualifiers, the Football Association of Malaysia has appointed Peter Cklamovski as the new head coach of the national team. Cklamovski, a former Australian international, has previously managed teams in Australia, Serbia, and Saudi Arabia.
2024: An Eventful Year for Asian Football
The past year has been significant for Asian football, with several successful tournaments taking place:
Top 5 FAQs about the AFC Asian Cup and Malaysian Football
Q1: When will the Asian Cup 2027 be held? A1: The tournament will be held from June 14 to July 16, 2027.
Q2: Where will the Asian Cup 2027 be hosted? A2: The host nation has not yet been decided.
Q3: Who are the current Asian Cup champions? A3: Qatar won the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
Q4: What is the significance of Peter Cklamovski's appointment for Malaysia? A4: Cklamovski brings international experience and a track record of success, hoping to guide Malaysia to a strong performance in the Asian Cup qualifiers.
Q5: What are the key tournaments to watch in Asian football in 2025? A5: The AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers (March 2025 onwards) and the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 will be major events to follow.
After their first victory in the opening match of the series, the Indian cricket team's celebration in different groups has raised eyebrows and brought to light potential divisions within the team. While some senior members, like head coach Gautam Gambhir, enjoyed a quiet meal with their families, younger players were seen gathering later at night. A reserve player even voiced his concerns about being left out of team discussions, showing possible tensions within the team.
Real Madrid faced off against Valencia in LaLiga with Ferland Mendy starting in the left-back position. However, many Madridistas were dissatisfied with this choice and took to social media to voice their disappointment. Coach Carlo Ancelotti commented on Barcelona's recent dip in form, stating that all three of the top teams in LaLiga have a fair chance at winning the title. Real Madrid currently sits second in the league and a win against Valencia would bring them to the top spot.
Vidarbha's Karun Nair sets a new record for the most runs in a row without being dismissed in a match during the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament. The right-handed batter smashed an unbeaten 542 runs before finally being dismissed for 112 against Uttar Pradesh. This breaks the previous List A record for most consecutive runs scored.
The decision of Rohit Sharma being 'rested' for the fifth Test in Sydney has led to uproar in the Indian cricket community. At 37 years old, this may be the end of Sharma's Test career. The retirements of Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20Is and the mid-series retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin have sparked a transition phase in Indian cricket. Reports state that there was a communication breakdown between the skipper and the head coach, leading to Sharma's exclusion.
Despite being the poster boy of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli continues to struggle with his batting form during the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. With his recent dismissal off an outside-off delivery, Kohli has now recorded the second-lowest average in Test cricket among mainstream batters since 2024. In contrast, the top three spots in this list are occupied by bowlers, raising questions about Kohli's technique and form.
West Indian batting sensation Sherfane Rutherford has been nominated for the prestigious ICC Men's ODI Cricketer of the Year award for his incredible performances in 2024. Despite playing away from home, Rutherford showed his explosive batting style and impressive consistency, scoring three consecutive half-centuries against Sri Lanka, followed by a stunning 54 (36) against England and a match-winning 113 (80) against Bangladesh. With a strike rate of 107.36 and a dismissal of just one, Rutherford has proven himself as one of the most promising players in ODI cricket.
The fifth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 test at the Sydney Cricket Ground saw a fiery encounter between India's Jasprit Bumrah and Australia's Sam Konstas. The stand-in captain for the Indian team charged towards Konstas after taking a wicket, creating an intense rivalry between the two. Despite a low-scoring day with India being bowled out for 185, the excitement and tension between the players on both sides set the tone for a thrilling second day.
In his debut match, all-rounder Beau Webster discussed the daunting task of facing India's Jasprit Bumrah on the seam-friendly SCG pitch. While Australia struggles at 9 for one and Bumrah secures his first wicket, Webster emphasizes the importance of a strong first innings score to set a solid foundation for his team.
Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant accused Australian opener Sam Konstas of trying to waste time during the last few minutes of playing on Friday. The heated confrontation between Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah and Konstas took place when Bumrah started his over just a few minutes before the allotted time for Stumps. Pant, who was behind the stumps, claims that he couldn't hear what was said but believes that Australia's intention was to avoid facing another Indian over. Although they were successful in doing so, Bumrah managed to get a vital wicket before Stumps was called. Fellow Australian all-rounder Beau Webster hopes that Konstas can back up his confident words with a strong performance on Saturday.
Temba Bavuma of South Africa won the toss and chose to bat first against Pakistan in the second Test at Newlands in Cape Town. Pakistan, who have struggled in their previous matches against South Africa, will be desperate to pick up some wickets and maintain their momentum. However, they have conceded 69 runs in the first hour and are running low on patience and energy. Despite a brief comeback in the second hour, the visitors are still struggling to string together some dot balls and pick up wickets.