AFC Awards 2026: Al-Dawsari Eyes Record Third Player of the Year
30th edition to be held at Aksra Theatre King Power, Bangkok on 19 November, with Thailand’s Osamanmusa and FA Thailand among the nominees
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed that the AFC Awards Bangkok 2026 will take place at the Aksra Theatre King Power in Bangkok on Thursday, 19 November 2026, and has announced the nominees across 19 categories.
It is the 30th edition of the awards and the second time Thailand has hosted them, following the first in 2017. The awards honour the best players, coaches and member associations in Asian football over the past year.
In the men’s Player of the Year category, Salem Al-Dawsari of Al-Hilal and Saudi Arabia is bidding for a record third title. The 35-year-old won in 2022 and last year, and is nominated for the third time in four editions. He is up against his Saudi compatriot Feras Al-Brikan of Al-Ahli and Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand of Tractor FC. Al-Brikan, a first-time nominee, scored the winner in the AFC Champions League Elite final as Al-Ahli retained the title. Beiranvand, 34, is nominated for a second time, after his first in 2019, following a World Cup in which Iran narrowly missed the last 32 on goal difference.
Australia’s Holly McNamara, North Korea’s Kim Kyong-yong and South Korea’s Kim Hye-ri are the nominees for Women’s Player of the Year. McNamara was also on last year’s shortlist.
Thailand has a futsal contender in Muhammad Osamanmusa, who plays for Jimbee Cartagena in Spain and competes with Iran’s Hossein Tayebi and Saeid Ahmad Abbasi for Futsal Player of the Year. The Football Association of Thailand is among the nominees for Member Association of the Year in the Diamond category, alongside China and Vietnam.
Japan dominates the youth men’s shortlist, with Maki Kitahara, Rion Ichihara and Ryunosuke Sato all nominated. In the women’s coach category, Ma Xiaoxu, Marzieh Jafari and Park Youn-jeong are the nominees. The winner of the top honour, the AFC Diamond of Asia Award, will be announced at the ceremony.
Credit Photo : AFC
