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In East Asia, due to relatively fewer countries (regions), and apart from China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea, other teams have limited capabilities, thus there are relatively fewer exchange matches. However, in West Asia, not only are there more teams, but the language is basically the same, making exchanges extremely frequent. Moreover, there are several football organizations in West Asia, each with their own competitions, which further facilitates "internal exchanges" among teams at various levels.
Currently underway in Doha is the Arab Games football competition held every four years, now in its 12th edition, with no age restrictions for participating teams. In addition, there is another regional event for Arab countries called the "Arab Championship," organized by the Arab Football Union (Union Arab de Football Association) established in 1974, with a total of 22 associations under it, including ten Arab national football associations from Africa and twelve from West Asia. Iran, which does not speak Arabic, does not belong to this organization. The ninth edition of this competition will be held in Saudi Arabia next June, with a championship prize of one million US dollars.
Excluding African countries, there are two football unions in West Asia. One is the "West Asian Football Federation (WAFF)," covering all 13 football associations in West Asia. Since 2000, this organization has held the West Asian Nations Cup every two years, and another event is the West Asian Games football competition, also requiring participation from national teams, held every four years.
The other union is named the "Gulf Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf," referring only to the six countries surrounding the Persian Gulf: Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. The well-known "Gulf Cup" hosted by this organization is also held every two years. Currently, Iraq and Yemen also participate in the Gulf Cup but have not joined the council.
In other words, besides formal competitions like the World Cup qualifiers, AFC Asian Cup, and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers that national teams in West Asia participate in, such as China's team, there are at least three or four other competitions available. Moreover, the intensity of competitions between Arab countries is no less than those between China, Japan, and South Korea, with the Gulf Cup even being considered by West Asian teams as "more important than the World Cup qualifiers."
The coach Goran leading Kuwait in the Arab Games believes that so many competitions greatly benefit the growth of the team. "I took over the Kuwait team in February 2009, and since then, I've led the team in the Gulf Cup, West Asian Nations Cup, AFC Asian Cup qualifiers and the Asian Cup, as well as the World Cup qualifiers. Normally, FIFA has designated international match days where we can arrange friendly matches. But these matches are more important for me in evaluating players, without needing to worry about results. However, these official competitions in West Asia are different. Here, the football associations of various countries attach great importance to mutual performance records, and performing poorly once could very likely lead to my dismissal, and this has indeed happened!" Indeed, in December 2005 during the third West Asian Games held in Doha, Argentine Carlos Calderon had previously led the Saudi team to qualify for the Germany World Cup, but was directly dismissed because he failed to advance in this competition!
Strong Youth, Strong West Asia
In West Asia, besides the competitions participated in by national teams, countries place significant emphasis on youth events, with even the presidents of football associations attending personally. Moreover, the entire youth competition system is almost identical to the national team competition system. For example, the "Arab Football Union" founded the first Arab U18 Youth Championship in Morocco in late July this year, with all participants born after 1993. West Asian youth teams in this age group participated, preparing for the preliminary rounds of the AFC Youth Championship in November this year. In mid-August, the union also founded the first Arab U15 Junior Championship in Saudi Arabia, with all participants born after 1996. This event served as preparation for the preliminary rounds of the AFC Junior Championship in October this year. It is reported that both events will be held every two years.
In addition, the West Asian Football Federation also holds the "West Asian U19 Youth Championship" and the "West Asian U16 Junior Championship" every two years, both scheduled in the same year as the final stages of the AFC Youth Championship and the AFC Junior Championship, regarded as top-notch training opportunities before the finals. Meanwhile, in the Gulf region, there are annual youth championships and junior championships, differing in that teams of the same age group participate twice. For instance, the "Gulf U15 Junior Championship" held in Saudi Arabia in July this year featured participants born after 1996, while between June and July each year, the "Gulf U16 Junior Championship" is held, featuring the same age group, preparing for the final stages of the AFC Junior Championship in October next year. The situation with the Gulf Youth Championship is similar.
Three years ago, the Gulf region also founded the "Gulf U23 Championship," featuring the Olympic teams of the six Gulf countries. In the third edition held in Doha in mid-August this year, Oman's Olympic team defeated UAE and Saudi Arabia consecutively to win the championship, ending China's Olympic dream for London. In October this year, the six Gulf countries also founded an event called the "Gulf Olympic Games," setting up a football project, stipulating that all participating teams must be Olympic age groups, i.e., born after 1989.
At the club level, besides participating in the AFC Champions League, West Asian teams also participate in the Arab Champions League and the Gulf Region Club Championships. Teams ranked higher in their respective leagues participate in the AFC Champions League, those ranked lower participate in the Arab Champions League, and those even lower join the Gulf Region Club Championships. Moreover, the schedule of these events is almost synchronized with the AFC Champions League. In other words, throughout the West Asian region, whether it be national teams, youth teams, or club teams, the existence of so many competitions significantly increases exchange opportunities and raises standards. Note that all these events come with prize money.
West Asia no longer plays with us...
The core of professional football is using competition as a lever to improve tactical and technical skills. In European and American football powerhouses, domestic league levels are relatively high, whereas in West Asia, professional football has only gradually developed over the past decade. Given the low level of domestic leagues, participating in numerous international competitions becomes particularly important for enhancing team capabilities. Moreover, a player participates in at least around 50 actual matches per year.
"Now, Oman is participating in the 12-team Olympic qualifiers. Besides the three group stage matches already played, they also participated in the Gulf U23 Championship in Doha, totaling four matches; in October, they participated in the Gulf Olympic Games in Bahrain, playing four matches. Additionally, three friendly matches were arranged to prepare for the 12-team Olympic qualifiers... After eliminating China, we have played 14 matches just in the second half of this year. Among the players on this team, nine are national team members who participated in five World Cup qualifiers, including the national team's friendly matches. Thus, they alone have participated in over 20 matches representing national-level teams..." Alzani said.
Reflecting on the Chinese Olympic team of the 1989 generation through Oman's Olympic team, after Bratuzevic took over in January this year, aside from five practice matches in Egypt, the team only played three official international matches before facing Oman. With such limited experience, how could they excel in life-or-death matches? Foreign football experts always say that Chinese players lack match experience. This experience is precisely accumulated through international competitions, and it requires pressure-filled matches.
As Chinese football increasingly isolates itself, West Asian powers accumulate vast experience through internal exchanges. One step forward and one step back, the reason why the Chinese national team's advantage against West Asian teams has diminished over the past decade becomes clear. After the 2002 World Cup, China's opportunities to go abroad and exchange with West Asia have become fewer, inviting mostly non-competitive teams for friendlies, essentially coming here to "accompany" in play, while we remain satisfied with constant victories at a low standard.
Events Hosted by the Arab Football Federation:
Arab Championship: Every four years.
Arab Games: Every four years.
Arab U18 Championship: Every two years.
Arab U15 Championship: Every two years.
Arab Champions League: Annually.
Events Hosted by the West Asian Football Federation:
West Asian Nations Cup: Every two years.
West Asian Games Football Competition: Every four years.
West Asian U19 Championship: Every two years.
West Asian U16 Championship: Every two years.
Events Hosted by the Gulf Cooperation Council:
Gulf Cup: Every two years.
Gulf Olympic Games: Every four years.
Gulf U23 Championship: Annually.
Gulf U19 Championship: Annually.
Gulf U16 Championship: Annually.
Gulf Club Championship: Annually, two teams per country.
Editor: Liu Qing Follow his Weibo
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