The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s unwavering commitment to ensure football remains Asia’s number one sport, reached yet another significant milestone when as many as 43 Member Associations (MAs) of the Confederation pledged to join the AFC Grassroots Football Day 2024.
This year, almost 45,000 participants spanning the length and breadth of Asia, and across age-groups, social backgrounds, and abilities, are expected to join in the celebration, upholding the Confederation’s ambitions to encourage mass participation.
Marking the highest participation since the relaxation of COVID-19 related constraints, the 11th edition will see its MAs harness the power of the beautiful game to spread joy and put smiles on the faces of children across Asia.
In India, the AFC Grassroots Football Day is being celebrated as a nationwide effort, with over 22,000 participants engaging in a variety of events spanning several weeks, including friendly tournaments and seminars aimed at promoting the development of women’s football in the country, whereas almost 1500 youngsters will participate in football festivals in Qatar and Uzbekistan respectively.
Similarly, MAs such as the Bhutan Football Federation, Palestine Football Association, and Mongolia Football Federation, are set to organise festivals comprising mini-tournaments and small-sided games, while the Kyrgyz Football Union will commemorate the day by conducting seminars for the region’s coaches and tutors to hone their understanding of children’s psychology and qualities required in a modern-day coach.
Moreover, the Japan Football Association will bring back the beloved Penguins Cup MAKUHARI in collaboration with the Japan Walking Football Federation, while the Guam Football Association will also include Walking Football in their celebrations along with Golf Football.
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa said: “For a decade now, the annual celebration has remained a symbol of the Confederation’s unwavering support and dedication towards the enhancement and nurturing of grassroots football across our diverse Continent.”
“As underlined in our Vision and Mission, the AFC is resolute in its ambitions to ensure the success of our national teams and clubs on the highest of stages. But to ensure this growth in a sustainable manner, we must never take our eyes off our very foundation – the grassroots.
“But, as we all know, there is a larger purpose to developing football at the grassroots level than just creating a pipeline of future stars. It is just as much about fostering widespread engagement and instilling a love for the sport, and using the massive potential of football to create well-rounded individuals.
“So, I must applaud the incredible amount of work that the various members and regional associations have undertaken to ensure that football remains accessible to all members of society, irrespective of their age, status, gender, and abilities.”
Since the last iteration of the AFC Grassroots Football Day, the Confederation has also marked the return of events such as the AFC Grassroots Conference and the AFC Special Grassroots Awards, while membership under the AFC Grassroots Charter now boasts 41 members.
Additionally, the latest edition of the AFC Grassroots Review was also published earlier this year, revisiting the initiatives of the AFC’s MAs that have contributed to expanding the influence of the beautiful game.
