On October 15, in Riyadh (Saudi Arbia), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) held the 7th meeting of the Executive Committee, taking place right before the AFC Awards Ceremony of Riyadh 2025. President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Tran Quoc Tuan attended the meeting as a member of the AFC Standing Committee, Chairman of the AFC Competition Commission and Member of the Asian Cup Organizing Committee for the 2023-2027 term.
In his opening speech, AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa expressed his gratitude to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) for its thoughtful reception, and highly appreciated the host country's proactive role in hosting many important events within the framework of AFC's activities.
At the meeting, President Shaikh Salman acknowledged the significant progress of Asian football in recent times, congratulating Qatar and Saudi Arabia as the first two teams in the region to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He also praised Al-Hilal club for reaching the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 and 3 AFC referees participating in the final match of this tournament.
The meeting in Riyadh is a testament to the spirit of solidarity and sustainable development of Asian football. Our teams are affirming their position in the international arena, contributing to enhancing the image of continental football, Mr. Shaikh Salman emphasized.
In addition to appreciating the professional achievements, the AFC President also expressed his sympathy for the member federations facing difficulties, including the Palestine Football Association (PFA), and expressed his condolences to the victims in Gaza. He affirmed that the AFC will continue to support the PFA in restoring football activities and protecting the safety of players and officials.
The AFC also expressed support for the Association of Nepatals Football Associations (ANFA) and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), calling on members to spread the spirit of solidarity and hope through football.
Within the framework of the program, the AFC Executive Committee approved the policy and program "Equal Pitch" to promote equality and integration in football, and approved Thailand as the host country for the next 2 AFC Beach Soccer Asian CupTMs. In addition, the AFC signed a cooperation agreement with UEFA on recognizing the equivalent of a coaching degree, effective until 2029.
At the end of the meeting, the AFC Executive Committee agreed to choose Thailand as the venue for the 2026 AFC Awards.
