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.
Rising Indian cricketer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has made a shocking decision to leave Mumbai and join Goa in the upcoming domestic season, as he seeks a change for personal reasons. The left-handed opener, who has already shown great potential in international cricket, will now represent a lesser-known team in hopes of making a bigger impact. This move is unprecedented, especially considering Jaiswal's successful stint with Mumbai and a lack of big names in the Goa team. Fans eagerly await the results of this surprising shift.
After Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced their first eight-wicket home defeat during IPL 2025, team mentor Zaheer Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with the pitch conditions. He stated that the curator did not consider it a home game, and requested for more support from the home facilities in order for the team to perform better in their home ground. Despite expecting the track to favour spin bowling, LSG's decision to bring in M Siddharth instead of Prince Yadav backfired as PBKS's fast bowling group proved to be too much for them.
On Monday, Mumbai Indians' medium-pacer Ashwani Kumar, a 23-year-old from Punjab's Jhanjeri, became the first Indian ever to take four wickets on his Indian Premier League debut, helping his team to an easy win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite appearing at trials for multiple IPL franchises, Ashwani's humble village background and love for classic Punjabi food kept him grounded and motivated for his record-breaking performance. Coach Varinder Singh worked with Ashwani to develop his skills, and his proud mother, Meena Kumari, shared his love for besan ka chilla and aloo parathas with the media after the match.
Batting superstar Virat Kohli recently expressed his criticism towards the BCCI's decision to limit family time on international tours. This move has caused controversy, with players feeling that it affects their focus and personal well-being. Yuvraj Singh's wife, Hazel Keech, has spoken out in support of the updated policy, stating that it benefits both players and their families. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that the rule will remain in place for the time being, citing its importance to the country and the board.
After leading the Indian cricket team to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli has announced his next big goal - winning the ODI World Cup in 2027. Amid speculation about his potential retirement, Kohli made it clear that he is not looking to slow down anytime soon. Meanwhile, other Indian players, including Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, are set to retain their A+ grade contracts.
Pakistan's struggles continued in the second ODI against New Zealand as they lost seven wickets while chasing a target of 293. Star batter Babar Azam, who failed to perform in the first ODI, could only manage 1 run before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. With fans and cricket enthusiasts expressing frustration over his ongoing struggles with the bat, the pressure is on Babar to deliver in the upcoming matches of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Despite his form difficulties, many still believe that Babar's class is permanent and a big innings is just around the corner.
In a high-scoring and intense game, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets, 140-139, in double overtime. Despite a career-high 61 points from Nikola Jokic, the Timberwolves were able to rally and secure the win with two clutch free throws from Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The win also marks the Timberwolves' fourth consecutive victory over the Nuggets this season.
Nishant Dev, a young boxer from India, has recently turned professional after being inspired by legends like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 23-year-old made his debut in the professional boxing world after falling in love with the sport while watching YouTube videos. Despite his loss in the Paris Olympics, Nishant's decision to go pro was not influenced by that defeat and he continues to train hard under the guidance of former American boxer Ronald Simms.
KKR all rounder Ramandeep Singh gives glowing praise to Mumbai Indians' Ashwani Kumar for his four-wicket haul in Mumbai's victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 12 of the IPL 2025. Ashwani becomes the first player to achieve this feat on his IPL debut.
The Mumbai Indians started their IPL campaign with an 8-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders, with 23-year-old pacer Ashwani Kumar stealing the spotlight with his impressive performance. MI skipper Hardik Pandya praised the team's scouting efforts for discovering Kumar's talent, and highlighted his crucial wickets of Andre Russell and Quinton de Kock as the game-changers for the team. Fans can catch all the latest updates from IPL 2025 on News24, and follow them on social media for breaking news and updates.