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AFC Names Vietnam, China, Thailand for Diamond Member Association Award in Bangkok
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Vietnam, China, Thailand named nominees for AFC Diamond Award. Ceremony set for November 19, 2026 in Bangkok.
AFC Awards in Bangkok
The Asian Football Confederation announced nominees for the 30th annual awards ceremony on Friday, with the event scheduled for November 19 at the Aksra Theatre King Power in Bangkok. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) earned a Diamond category nomination for the fourth straight edition, and the AFC shortlist placed the VFF alongside the Chinese Football Association and the Football Association of Thailand in the Diamond category. The AFC divided the Member Association of the Year awards into four categories, Platinum, Diamond, Gold and Ruby, and the AFC listed Japan, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as Platinum nominees.
The AFC listed Bangladesh, Guam and Laos as Ruby nominees, and the AFC said the shortlist should not be viewed as a ranking of Asia’s six strongest national teams because associations compete within their respective categories. The AFC said the Diamond category recognizes associations with extensive operations, professional competition systems, developed youth training and grassroots football networks, and effective implementation of AFC and FIFA support programs.
Iran’s nominees and gaps
The Asian Football Confederation named nominees for the 33rd edition of the continent’s football awards in 2026, and the list included the return of Alireza Beiranvand to the group of nominees for the AFC Player of the Year. The AFC Awards nominees included Alireza Beiranvand for the AFC Men’s Player of the Year, and the nominees also featured Marziyeh Jafari for women’s football and two Iranian futsal internationals for the continental Player of the Year. The AFC Awards list showed a dual image for Iranian football because the absence of Iranian players in the Best Asian Legioner category and the exclusion of Iran’s Football Federation from the race for Best Asian Federation left Iran without representation in those areas.
The AFC Awards nominees also placed Iran’s representatives across categories, and the list named علیرضا بیرانوند, مرضیه جعفری, حسین طیبی, سعید احمدعباسی and فدراسیون فوتبال ایران as nominees. The AFC Awards nominees scheduled the ceremony in Bangkok on Thursday, 24 Aban, and the list said the event would be held at the Aksra Theatre King Power.
Player of the Year race
Salim Al-Dosari was nominated for the AFC Player of the Year award in Bangkok, and Inside World Football said he was aiming for a hat-trick of AFC Player of the Year awards after being named alongside legendary Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and Al Ahli striker Feras Al Brikan on the shortlist. Inside World Football said the 35-year-old Al Hilal captain won the award in 2022 and again last year, and it said he was nominated for the third time in four editions. The AFC Awards nominees also included Holly McNamara, Kim Kyong Yong and Kim Hye-ri for the women’s side, and Inside World Football said the 19 prizes would be handed out at the Aksra Theatre on November 19.
The AFC Awards nominees placed Ali Reza Baranoud, Faras Al-Breikan, and Salim Al-Dosari in the race for AFC Men's Player of the Year, and alkifahnews said the AFC Awards Bangkok 2026 kick off on Thursday, November 19 at 8:00 PM local time (GMT+7). The AFC Awards nominees also listed Joseph Montemoro, Go Kuroda, and Sadayoshi Shirai for AFC Coach of the Year (Men), and alkifahnews said the ceremony could be watched on AFC’s YouTube channel and other digital.