The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the introduction of the AFC Nations League, a new tournament designed to elevate the quality and competitiveness of international football among its member associations. The announcement was made on Sunday, December 21, 2025, marking a significant step in the confederation's commitment to strengthening national team football across the continent.
Inspired by the UEFA Nations League, which was launched in 2018, the AFC Nations League aims to create a more structured and sustainable international match framework. The tournament will organize Asian national teams into different divisions based on their rankings, ensuring that they compete against opponents of similar strength during FIFA international windows. Details regarding the format, structure, timeline, and implementation of the proposed Nations League will be announced later, following consultations with key stakeholders.
The AFC's decision to introduce the Nations League comes in response to the increasing challenges of effectively utilizing FIFA international match windows. These challenges include limited availability of suitable opponents, escalating operational costs, and logistical complexities, which have diminished the overall sporting value of international fixtures. By creating a more structured competition platform, the AFC aims to ensure consistent access to high-quality matches while addressing these logistical and cost-related challenges.
The AFC believes the Nations League will provide competitive balance and meaningful match exposure, while improving calendar certainty for national teams. The new league is part of the AFC's ongoing efforts to enhance development opportunities for its Member Associations. The tournament intends to use existing FIFA international windows to run the competition.
AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John stated that there has been strong interest and growing demand from commercial partners for a Nations League-style competition, reflecting its appeal to fans, broadcasters, and stakeholders. He added that the league's ability to deliver a more compelling and marketable international football product factored into the decision to create the tournament.
The AFC currently organizes the Asian Cup every four years, with the next edition of the 24-team finals due to be played in Saudi Arabia in January 2027. The introduction of the Nations League is expected to further enhance the development of football in Asia and provide a platform for national teams to improve their competitiveness on the international stage.
