The Asian Game

Iranian women's football has been growing in visibility and ambition. But a new directive banning men from attending women's matches threatens to halt that momentum.

Gina Bagnulo and Anirudh Nair are joined by Iranian journalist Erfan Hoseiny to examine the decision, which extends beyond supporters to male journalists, photographers, coaches and club officials - and comes just as Tehran prepares for its first women's derby.

What does the ban mean for coverage, scouting and the visibility of female players? How difficult is it already for Iranian women to build careers at home or abroad? And what does the situation reveal about the wider challenges facing women's football in West Asia?

From the rise of Bam Khatoon and Iran's recent Asian Cup appearances to diaspora recruitment, media coverage and the growing gap between East and West Asia, this episode looks beyond the latest headline at where Iranian women's football goes from here.

Less than a year out from the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, how ready are Asia's leading nations to compete on the global stage?

Gina Bagnulo and Anirudh Nair return with From Dreams to Goals to assess the state of women's football across Asia as preparations for Brazil accelerate.

They discuss Japan and Australia's credentials against elite opposition, the remarkable progress of DPR Korea at youth level, the Philippines' preparation in South America, and the long road still facing Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei as they chase World Cup history.

There's also discussion of Indonesia's newly relaunched women's league and what growing investment and opportunity across the continent could mean for the future of the Asian game.

Can Asia's best challenge the world in Brazil - and which nations still have the most work to do?

Join host Ryan Walters as he goes into the tunnel with players in the ultimate 'what if' scenario: seconds away from walking onto the pitch for a World Cup Final. As their career flashes before their eyes, they discuss the matches, milestones, moments, mistakes, and people that shaped who they are.

This is football in full life, in full vision. This is Tunnel Vision.

In this episode, Ryan welcomes Kuala Lumpur City captain and Malaysia international Paulo Josué. Perhaps the most City of the City Boys, Paulo arrived in Malaysia chasing an opportunity and ended up finding a second home. More than a decade later, he's become one of the most recognisable faces in Malaysian football, with a career that's taken him from the second division to continental finals and the national team.

They dive into:

• How a Brazilian midfielder found his home in Cheras

• KL City's rise, FA Cup triumph and memorable AFC Cup run

• Representing Malaysia and coming up against Son Heung-min

• Why Paulo believes Arif Aiman belongs in Europe

• Neymar, Pelé, Messi and some of football's bigger personalities

From the early uncertainty of leaving Brazil to becoming a Malaysian international, this is a conversation about loyalty, finding your place in football and the unexpected turns that can make a career.

Southeast Asia has just staged two regional international tournaments within little more than a month.

But does the region really need both?

On the first episode of The International Window, Scott McIntyre is joined by Keeshanan Sundaresan and Dez Corkhill to examine where the traditional ASEAN Championship and the new FIFA ASEAN Cup fit into an increasingly crowded international calendar.

Why do these tournaments still matter so much to the region? Should Southeast Asia's leading nations be looking beyond their own neighbourhood for stronger competition? And if two tournaments are going to coexist, do they need fundamentally different purposes?

The panel also discusses the growing use of naturalised and heritage players across Southeast Asia, Indonesia's evolution ahead of the Asian Cup, the prospects of Vietnam and Thailand, the challenges facing the region's developing nations and why stronger domestic leagues ultimately remain essential to genuine progress.

The International Window is The Asian Game's monthly podcast dedicated to national team football across Asia - looking beyond the results to the bigger issues shaping the international game.

The Asian Game Podcast is back - with a new look, a new sound and a renewed focus on the biggest questions shaping football across Asia.

For our first episode of this new era, Scott McIntyre is joined by Michael Church, Martin Lowe and Paul Williams to unpack the AFC's proposed Nations League and what it could mean for international football across the continent.

Could more meaningful matches and promotion and relegation help Asia close the competitive gap? Or would a tiered system create new barriers for developing nations and limit the opportunities of Asia's best teams to test themselves against the global elite?

From World Cup qualification and the future of Asia's smaller nations to competitive balance, global exposure and whether the continent simply needs more football, the team asks the fundamental question:

Will the AFC Nations League make Asian football better - or simply bigger?

Chinese football has spent much of the past decade being defined by disappointment. Another World Cup cycle has ended without qualification, but beneath the struggles of the senior national team there are finally signs of something different.

China reached historic finals at both the AFC U23 and U17 Asian Cups in 2026, while a new generation of players is beginning to push towards the senior side under Shao Jiayi.

On the inaugural episode of Road to Riyadh, Paul Williams is joined by Xiaoou Zhao of Chinese Sports Diaries to ask whether those green shoots are evidence of genuine structural change.

They discuss the evolution of China's youth development system, the emergence of a new generation of coaches, the difficult bridge from youth football to the senior game, players including Wang Yudong, and what success should look like for China at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.

Can China finally build a national-team identity capable of turning youth promise into senior success?

Road to Riyadh is The Asian Game's journey towards the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, speaking to the people who know each nation best and exploring the players, coaches and stories shaping their road to Saudi Arabia.

Indonesia and Malaysia played out a tense 0-0 draw at the Gelora Bung Karno, but the result only tells part of the story.

Ryan Walters is joined by Indonesian football journalist Ilham Batara Simatupang at GBK to break down a chaotic night in Jakarta, from Tom Haye's first-half red card and Indonesia's struggles with 10 men to Malaysia's missed opportunity to take advantage.

They discuss the chants for former Indonesia coach Shin Tae-yong around the stadium, questions over John Herdman's Plan B, Malaysia's second-half approach, and why a draw against their biggest rivals felt more like a defeat for Indonesia.

Plus, hear from inside the post-match press conferences as Herdman praises the GBK crowd as Indonesia's "X factor,", Maarten Paes reflects on another clean sheet, and Tan Cheng Hoe looks back on the chances Malaysia missed to win it.

Elsewhere, Singapore picked up their first win of the tournament with a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh, with reaction from Gavin Lee, Harhys Stewart and Thomas Dooley.

With Indonesia and Malaysia still locked together heading into the final round, can Indonesia find the goals they need against Bangladesh to finish the group strongly?

Join host Ryan Walters as he goes into the tunnel with players in the ultimate 'what if' scenario: seconds away from walking onto the pitch for a World Cup Final. As their career flashes before their eyes, they discuss the matches, milestones, moments, mistakes, and people that shaped who they are.

This is football in full life, in full vision. This is Tunnel Vision.

In this episode, Ryan chats with Park Jungbin, the South Korean midfielder whose career has taken him from the Bundesliga, across Europe, back to South Korea, and eventually Southeast Asia. Now at Sabah FC, Park looks back on the successes, setbacks and experiences that have shaped a career he believes is only just entering its second half.

They dive into:

How Germany shaped him as both a player and professional

Making his Bundesliga debut against Bayern Munich

The setbacks, failures and sleepless nights behind football's so-called "dream job"

Why his experiences in Europe and Korea have prepared him for the second half of his career

From leaving South Korea as a teenager to building a career across two continents, this is a story about resilience, perspective and why Park still believes he has plenty left to give.

The FIFA ASEAN Cup is underway in Jakarta, with Indonesia and Malaysia both making winning starts to Group A.

Host Ryan Walters reports from the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium after Malaysia's 3-0 win over Bangladesh and Indonesia's 2-0 victory over Singapore, bringing you reaction straight from the post-match press conferences.

Hear from Thomas Dooley, Tan Cheng Hoe, Bergson, Gavin Lee, John Herdman and Ole Romeny, including Bergson on an emotional Malaysia debut and Gavin Lee on where Singapore fell short against the hosts.

Coach John Herdman also delivers a clear message about his squad and the discussion around local and diaspora players: "There is no local. There is no diaspora. We are Indonesian." He calls for a change in mindset around players representing the national team and stresses their commitment to the shirt.

Football chooses us. We chase the highs. And one day… the game ends.

Join your host Ryan Walters as he steps into the tunnel with players just seconds before a World Cup Final, reliving the matches, milestones, moments, mistakes and people that shaped their careers. This is football in full life, in full vision. This is Tunnel Vision.

In this episode, Ryan chats with Osmar Ibáñez, one of Asian football's most decorated defenders, to relive a career that has taken him from Spain to Thailand, South Korea and beyond. A born leader and student of the game, Osmar reflects on the moments and philosophy that shaped him on and off the pitch.

They dive into:

🇪🇸 How growing up in Spain shaped the way he sees football

🔴 The special bond he still shares with FC Seoul and its supporters

🧠 Why being a great defender starts with your mind, not your tackling

⚽ The incredible Juventus goal that everyone remembers... and why he'd rather they remembered something else

From childhood kickabouts in a village square to Champions League nights and league titles across Asia, this is a conversation about leadership, longevity and what it truly means to be a team player.