April 1 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched the second edition of the AFC Empowering Women in Football Programme (AEWFP).
The AEWFP is delivered by the AFC Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE) which was launched to boost the capabilities of Asian football leaders.
The first batch of graduates completed the course in October 2025. A second batch of 33 is currently starting the course.
The six-month online course comprises seven specially-crafted modules that include the strategic impact of women in football business environments and overcoming obstacles in these areas, how women lead diplomacy, advocacy and brand transformation; ethics, integrity and governance in business; and empowering women in executive leadership roles.
The programme is a mix of theory, practical activities and real-world case studies.
AFC Deputy General Secretary – Member Associations, Vahid Kardany, said: “This milestone programme lays the foundation to strengthen advocacy and influence, as women’s football continues to represent a growing opportunity to champion development and innovation, and bring about organisational and commercial impact, both on and off the pitch.
“The AEWFP not only guides you on how to best achieve these objectives, but also equips you with practical, hands-on leadership competencies. You will be able to better understand the evolution and strategic value of women in football, navigate industry barriers and lead at the executive level to drive meaningful innovation and change, among others.”
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