AFC Nations League: A new era of competition in Asian football

The Asian Football Confederation has officially announced the establishment of a new competition - the AFC Nations League. The new tournament aims to strengthen competition between national teams on the continent, as well as increase the sporting and practical significance of matches held within the framework of FIFA international days.

It is noted that all 47 national federations that are part of the AFC will participate in the competition. The main idea is to regularly introduce each team to opponents close to its level, improve the quality of matches and bring the tournament calendar into a systematic form.

According to preliminary data, the AFC Nations League will be divided into four divisions - Leagues A, B, C and D. It is planned to form 3 or 4 groups in each league. This system will work similarly to the European Nations League, but will be adapted to the specifics of Asian football.

A separate competition will be held between the strongest teams participating in the highest - League A. In this league, the top 4 teams after the group stage qualify for the semi-finals and compete for the championship. However, the last 3 teams with unsatisfactory results will be relegated to League B next season.

In Leagues B, C and D, there are no finals or semi-finals. The main focus here is on group matches. The group winners or teams with the best performance will have the opportunity to be promoted to the higher league. At the same time, the 3 teams with the lowest results will be relegated to the lower division. There is no relegation mechanism for the only participants in League D.

The main goal of the competition is to create an equal competitive environment between national teams, make each match significant and increase the economic potential of football beyond sports. The tournament is also considered a major project in terms of television broadcasts, sponsorship and fan interest.

The AFC announced that the full regulations, calendar and qualification criteria for the competition will be announced separately later. According to initial forecasts, the Uzbek national team is expected to participate in the new tournament in the highest league - League A. This will create the opportunity for the "white wolves" to play regular and serious matches against the strongest teams on the continent.