The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Sunday the launch of the “AFC Nations League,” a move aimed at improving competitive standards and boosting commercial opportunities for national teams across the continent.
The Kuala Lumpur-based confederation did not specify a start date for the tournament but stated its intention to utilize existing FIFA international match windows.
“By providing a structured competitive platform… we aim to ensure consistent access to high-quality matches, while addressing the logistical and cost challenges faced by national teams,” the statement read.
The AFC currently organizes the AFC Asian Cup every four years, with the next edition, featuring 24 teams, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2027.
Asia’s announcement of the AFC Nations League came just hours after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced a similar initiative, set to launch in Africa in 2029.
This will coincide with a historic change, as the Africa Cup of Nations will be held every four years instead of every two. It is worth noting that UEFA was the first to launch its Nations League competition in 2018 to increase the number of competitive and high-level matches played by its members.
