The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is seriously considering a plan that could change the fate of football in Asia and the national teams of this continent. This plan includes the launch of the "Asian Nations League," which will be held biennially starting in 2030 and will serve as part of the qualifying process for the World Cup and the Asian Cup.
New Team Classification
According to published information, national teams in Asia will be divided into three tiers. The first and second tiers will include 18 teams, while the remaining 11 teams will be placed in the third tier. This change will allow national teams to compete at a more competitive level and with higher quality.
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In periods when the Asian Nations League aligns with the World Cup qualifiers, the teams in the first tier will play 12 matches. These matches will include 6 home games and 6 away games. In this format, the top 6 teams in the first tier will qualify directly for the World Cup, while teams ranked seventh to tenth will enter the playoff stage.
Changes in the Asian Cup Qualifiers
In the new changes, the Asian Cup qualifiers will also undergo modifications. Teams will play three home matches and three away matches during this period. This structure allows the first-tier teams and the top 6 teams in the second tier to qualify for the Asian Cup. Additionally, the AFC has proposed moving the Asian Cup from 2031 to 2032.
The Asian Nations League will not only be a pathway for the qualifiers of major continental tournaments, but in each edition, the top 8 teams in the first tier will advance to the knockout stage. To determine the champion of this league, the quarter-finals will be held in a home-and-away format, while the semi-finals and finals will take place at a centralized location.
Promotion and Relegation System
One of the main features of this plan is the establishment of a promotion and relegation system among the three tiers. At the end of each two-year cycle, the top two teams from each tier will be promoted to the higher tier, while the bottom two teams from each tier will be relegated. This system motivates teams to perform better in competitions and improve the level of football in Asia.
Furthermore, in the new plan, there will be no regional classification, and teams will not be divided based on geographical regions of Asia. This decision has been made to prevent existing inequalities in the level of competition. Instead, teams will be placed in different pots during the draw, and the match schedule will be designed using an algorithmic system.
Conducting a Trial Period
The AFC has also proposed conducting a trial period in 2028 and 2029. During this period, the results of the joint preliminary stage will be used to determine the level of teams, and the FIFA ranking will not be the basis for classification. The World Cup qualifying structure during this trial period will still include three groups of six teams, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the 2030 World Cup.
With these changes, the AFC aims to increase the number of important national matches by integrating the Asian Nations League with the qualifying pathways for the World Cup and the Asian Cup, making the competition calendar more cohesive. This plan could significantly contribute to the growth and advancement of football in Asia and create a foundation for the flourishing of talents in this continent.
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