AFC Awards 2026: Nominees announced for 30th annual ceremony

AFC Awards 2026 Asian Football Confederation AFC Player of the Year Member Association of the Year Asian football nominations

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the nominees for the 30th annual AFC Awards, scheduled to be held on November 19, 2026, at the Aksra Theatre King Power in Bangkok, Thailand. The ceremony will honor excellence across 19 different categories, including players, coaches, and national associations.

In the Member Association categories, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has been nominated in the Diamond category alongside the Chinese Football Association and the Football Association of Thailand. Meanwhile, the Platinum category features nominees from Japan, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

Key individual competitions include the AFC Men’s Player of the Year, where Saudi Arabian stars Salem Al-Dawsari and Firas Al-Buraikan are competing against Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand. For the AFC Men’s Asian International Player Award, nominees include Lee Kang-in, Ayase Ueda, and Hwang In-beom. The women’s categories feature contenders such as Holly McNamara, Kim Kyong Yong, and Kim Hye-ri for Player of the Year.

Entities

Alireza Beiranvand · Asian Football Confederation · Bangkok · Firas Al-Buraikan · Holly McNamara · Salem Al Dawsari · Salem Al-Dawsari · Vietnam Football Federation

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] The AFC has announced the nominees for its 30th annual awards ceremony. news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com · arriyadiyah.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Saudi players Salem Al-Dawsari and Firas Al-Buraikan are nominees for the Best Men's Player in Asia. arriyadiyah.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The ceremony will feature 19 different award categories. news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com · arriyadiyah.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The Saudi Arabian, Japanese, and Jordanian football associations are nominees for the Best National Association award in the Platinum category. news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Holly McNamara, Kim Kyong-yong, and Kim Hi-ri are nominees for the Best Women's Player in Asia. news50.sa · arriyadiyah.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand is a nominee for the Best Men's Player in Asia. arriyadiyah.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The awards ceremony will be held on November 19 at the Aksra King Power Theatre in Bangkok, Thailand. news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com · arriyadiyah.com