Khalida Popal, captain of Afghanistan's national women's football team, is persevering against family pressure and threats of violence, to represent her war-torn country. "I love football and football is everything for me and when I come and feel the football I forget everything and I become very happy when I see my team", she told CNN.

Khalida Popal, captain of Afghanistan's national women's football team, is persevering against family pressure and threats of violence, to represent her war-torn country. "I love football and football is everything for me and when I come and feel the football I forget everything and I become very happy when I see my team", she told CNN.

Round 1
Malaysia v Chinese Taipei
Bangladesh v Pakistan
Cambodia v Laos
Sri Lanka v Philippines
Afghanistan v Palestine
Vietnam v Macau
Nepal v Timor Leste
Mongolia v Myanmar
First leg, June 29
Second leg, July 3
Round 2
Thailand v Afghanistan or Palestine
Lebanon v Bangladesh or Pakistan
China v Cambodia or Laos
Turkmenistan v Indonesia
Kuwait v Sri Lanka or Philippines
Oman v Mongolia or Myanmar
Saudi Arabia v Hong Kong
Iran v Maldives
Syria v Tajikistan
Qatar v Vietnam or Macau
Iraq v Yemen
Singapore v Malaysia or Chinese Taipei
Uzbekistan v Kyrgyzstan
UAE v India
Jordan v Nepal or Timor Leste
First leg, July 23
Second leg, July 28
Only Brunei missing from the World Cup qualifier though if the PSSI carry on its cack handed manner they may soon face the wrath of FIFA.

The Australian state of Victoria is currently experiencing an immigration boom with many new settlers arriving, particularly from the Horn of Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan and Burma (including Karen people). Football Federation Victoria is providing a community integration program, United Through Football, to promote diversity and social connection through football.

In war-torn Afghanistan, it's nice to know that football can still bring a smile or two to these young children / (Photo Credit : Thanks Suleha)

Tweet This Post

FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualification
It might seem a world away, but for some countries, the 2014 World Cup has already finished.
Qualifiers for the finals in Brazil began in June, and these nations will be watching FIFA's big party on television having been eliminated:
Afghanistan
Anguilla
Aruba
British Virgin Islands
Cambodia
Chinese Taipei
East Timor
Macao
Mongolia
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Turks and Caicos
And at the end of today, Montserrat look likely to join them, trailing Belize 5-2 from their home leg.

Those of you tuning in to ESPN today may see O'Brien's Pub in San Diego featured on the broadcast. The Official U.S. Soccer Bar will be part of a series of live feeds ESPN is setting up, showing U.S. fans around the world following the U.S. WNT. In addition to O'Brien's, you may also see feeds from Japan, Afghanistan and Times Square.

Liveblog: Afghanistan v Nepal Paddy is here to liveblog the match. You can chip in with comments on the liveblog panel above or by using the hashtag #nepalOTP on Twitter. If everything's working OK from a technical point-of-view you should be able to watch the match live in the video above too. 'Why Afghanistan v [.

A minutes silence before kick off to remember the 96 Liverpool fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough and also to remember a soldier who recently lost his life in Afghanistan and ex super sub David Fairclough's wife. The silence was impeccably observed by both sets of fans. A Liverpool side stricken with injuries yesterday managed to pull out all the stops and confidently beat Manchester City

Every year sports fans are inundated with coverage of the NFL Draft. It starts weeks prior and gets heavier and more detailed with each approaching day. The Draftboard for each pundit contains a mountain of information for each potential high draft pick. Every team's needs are evaluated and every position is dissected.

The first year I started writing about Thai Premier League was back in 2008 and I recall mocking endlessly the lack of goals in that now unrecognisable league.
There were 16 teams in the league that year, the TPL was won by PEA (before they moved to Buriram) with Chonburi finishing second.
Just three teams scored more than 40 goals in that year (BEC Tero 50, Krung Thai Bank & Chula Sinthana 47) while eight teams averaged a goal or less per game.

The Bangkok Post is saying that Thailand will host the winner of the preliminary qualifier between Afghanistan and Palestine in Buriram.
Really? Isn't there some FIFA rule that stipulates a stadium used for FIFA sanctioned events needs to be pretty bloody close to an international airport? And Thai FA head, Worawi Mukadi, as a member of various frequent flyer programmes and FIFA committees should know this.

The South Asian Football Championship has been taking place in India since the beginning of December. The biannual event retained its recent trend of seeing the Indian national team win the championship this time defeating Afghanistan in yesterday's final by four goals to nil.

In the early stages of the tournament Afghanistan had the early advantage over India with both teams meeting each other in Group A, along with Sri Lanka and Bhutan, and the Afghans finishing top of the group on goal difference.

Goalkeepers: Kawin Thamasatchanan (Muang Thong), Sinthaweechai Hathairattanakool (Chonburi), Sivaluk Terdsungnern (Buriram PEA), Samuel Cunningham (BEC)

Defenders: Suree Sukha, Natthaphong Samana, Anucha Kitpongsri, Chonlatit Jantakam and Suttinun Phukhom (all Chonburi), Nataporn Phanrit and Panupong Wongsa (both Muang Thong), Teeratorn Boonmathan (Buriram PEA), Sujarit Jantakul (Sri Racha), Prat Samakrat (BEC)

Midfielders: Datsakorn Thonglao, Phichitphong Cheuichiu and Jakkraphan Pornsai (all Muang Thong), Suchao Nutnum, Rangsan Vivatchaichok and Jakkraphan Kaewprom (all Buriram PEA), Puritat Jarikanon, Ekaphan Inthasen and Adul Lasoh (Chonburi), Surat Sukha (Melbourne Victory), Chakrit Buathong (Insee Police), Wanchana Rattana (Army), Apipoo Sunthornpanavij (Osotspa)

Strikers: Sarayuth Chaikamdee (Bangkok Glass), Teerasil Dangda and Anon Sangsanoi (both Muang Thong), Kirati Kaewsombut (Buriram PEA), Sompong Sorleb (Buriram FC), Ronnachai Rangsiyo (BEC), Wasant Natasant (Chiang Rai), Tatree Seeha (Army)

COMMENT - a 35 man squad to play either Palestine or Afghanistan?

Stoke sign two 'immature underachievers' plus why Hutton and O'Hara aren't missing Spurs

Until recently, Stoke City's dressing room wall featured a poster with the headline ‘On 29th June 2010 Two Planes Landed In England', complete with contrasting photos of England's failed World Cup squad returning to Heathrow and the coffins of British soldiers from the Afghanistan conflict being repatriated.

Group A: India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Afghanistan

03-Dec-2011: India - Afghanistan
03-Dec-2011: Sri Lanka - Bhutan
05-Dec-2011: India - Bhutan
05-Dec-2011: Sri Lanka - Afghanistan
07-Dec-2011: India - Sri Lanka
07-Dec-2011: Afghanistan - Bhutan

Group B: Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan

02-Dec-2011: Maldives - Nepal
02-Dec-2011: Bangladesh - Pakistan
04-Dec-2011: Maldives - Pakistan
04-Dec-2011: Bangladesh - Nepal
06-Dec-2011: Maldives - Bangladesh
06-Dec-2011: Nepal - Pakistan

Semifinals

09-Dec-2011: Group A Winners - Group B Runners-up
09-Dec-2011: Group B Winners - Group A Runners-up

Final

11-Dec-2011: Winner SF 1 - Winner SF 2

Source - Football Pakistan