Amman, April 26 (Petra) -- The Executive Committee of the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) hailed a strategic decision on Sunday to adopt regional youth championships as direct qualifying pathways for the Asian Cup, a move set to transform the competitive and commercial landscape of regional football.

Presiding over a high-level meeting in Amman, HRH Prince Ali bin Al Hussein welcomed the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) decision to designate regional Under-17 tournaments for both boys and girls as qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Under the new regulations, the top four teams in the boys' regional championships will earn direct entry to the continental finals, while the winner of the girls' tournament will secure an automatic berth.

Prince Ali, a long-standing advocate for empowering regional bodies, characterized the shift as a "first step" toward broader reliance on regional competitions. He noted that the move validates the WAFF’s initiative to elevate the status of sub-confederation tournaments and strengthens the technical alignment between the AFC and its five regional associations.

During the session, the Prince congratulated West Asian nations that have secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing confidence that their presence on the global stage reflects the sustained development of football across the Levant and Gulf regions.

WAFF General Secretary Khalil Al Salem presented an exhaustive activity report detailing upcoming men’s and women’s calendars for 2026. The schedule includes flagship youth and U-23 tournaments, as well as futsal and e-football championships.

The committee also moved to modernize its internal governance, approving amendments to the WAFF statutes and a comprehensive child protection policy. These updates, which align with FIFA and AFC global standards, will be submitted to the General Assembly for final ratification.

In a forward-looking move, the federation reviewed its new development strategy, which places a heavy emphasis on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into technical analysis and coaching development. The board also heard presentations on the federation's financial standing as of March 31, 2026, and approved administrative reshuffles within its Finance Committee.

The meeting concluded with the ratification of previous session minutes and a pledge to continue leveraging international partnerships to secure sustainable funding for youth and women’s programs across the region.

//Petra// AF

26/04/2026 22:09:07