October 20 – The AFC wrapped up its week in Saudi Arabia at the weekend with the closing of its Member Associations and Regional Associations Presidents’ and General Secretaries’ Conference 2025.
The Asian Football Confederation had run a series of meetings of it standing committees last week at the same time that Saudi Arabia were hosting one of the final qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The week also saw the AFC’s Awards 2025 ceremony in Riyadh before the conference began.
Hosted by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), the three-day conference has become a fixture in the AFC’s calendar with its focus on commercial issues, funding and growing the game in the region.
Speakers included Heather Garriock, the interim CEO and General Secretary of Football Australia, on the tactical ways in which football functions as a business, and a session from Riges Younan, the Global VP of work orchestration platform Gloat on the incorporation of artificial intelligence.
Director of Strategy, City Football Group, Patrick Knight, was the final speaker taking the membership through City Football Group’s global journey and its evolution into a unified football ecosystem.
“This Conference has once again given us a valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress and, more importantly, to facilitate forward-looking discussions. It has also given us renewed optimism and energy to bring the Asian game to even greater heights,” said AFC president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khelifa.
“The AFC is at a crucial moment in its history, guided by our governance reforms and revamped competitions. As we write this bold and exciting new chapter, we remain dedicated to introducing innovative programmes for our Member Associations and Regional Associations and ushering in a new era where football excellence is driven by the AFC and its members.”
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