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The Asian Football Confederation announced that the fourth edition of its Conference of Presidents and General Secretaries of National and Regional Associations will take place in the Japanese capital next month in partnership with the Japan Football Association, marking the first time Japan has hosted the event. According to an AFC statement, the gathering will provide a key platform for exchanging expertise, building institutional capacity, sharing ideas and creating networking opportunities among football leaders from across the continent. The confederation, which maintains its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, has positioned the annual meeting as a central element of its efforts to elevate standards of governance and professionalism throughout Asian football.
Previous editions of the conference, which began in 2023, were staged in Tashkent, Seoul and Riyadh, according to AFC records that trace the series as an evolving fixture for top administrators. The Tokyo programme will build on those foundations with expert-led sessions and interactive panels, the AFC said, continuing a trajectory that has drawn increasing participation from the full complement of its members. An activity report distributed ahead of the 36th AFC Congress earlier this year underscored the confederation’s focus on member-association development as a cornerstone of its long-term Vision and Mission launched in 2016.
Sessions at the upcoming conference will address artificial intelligence, global innovation in the sport, women’s football advancement and sports leadership, the AFC reported in its announcement. Leading experts will guide discussions designed to equip participants with practical insights for strengthening their organisations, according to the statement. The format echoes earlier conferences that combined presentations with panel exchanges to promote collaborative problem-solving among national and regional leaders.
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa will deliver the opening address, the confederation said. Al Khalifa stated that the AFC remains committed to continuously strengthening the capabilities of national and regional associations, adding that this year’s edition would mark another step forward in their collective progress. The Bahrain royal has led the AFC since 2013, overseeing a period in which the body has expanded development initiatives while seeking to position Asia as a leading force in global football.
Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto welcomed the decision to stage the event in Tokyo, describing it as recognition of Japan’s growing role beyond the pitch. Miyamoto said the conference offers a valuable opportunity for association leaders to meet face to face, exchange opinions frankly and jointly consider the future of Asian football. The JFA has identified contributing to international football development and raising its own global presence as strategic priorities, according to statements released alongside the announcement.
The AFC, formed in 1954 in Manila, now comprises 47 member associations and five regional bodies, the confederation’s official overview shows. Past conferences have featured contributions from FIFA officials and specialists in areas ranging from adaptive leadership to high-performance administration, according to reports on the 2024 and 2025 editions hosted by Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia. Organisers expect the Tokyo meeting to reinforce the AFC’s drive to professionalise operations at every level while advancing initiatives that include youth development, refereeing excellence and expanded women’s competitions.
