Japan can brag about an immense and millennial culture, and that includes a plethoric mythology, with several gods trying to exert influence over the peasants. The champion of them, Amaterasu, is a goddess who sits above Mount Fuji, the highest point of this archipelago. Amaterasu is the goddess of the Sun, the main deity in…

Unbridled scenes of Jordanian jubilation have continually graced this year’s edition of the Asia Cup. Nobody could have possibly foreseen this team – still currently ranked 87th in the world – being within one victory away from their first ever international trophy.    And while it’s easy to be simply jolted by the shock, you…

The last three years have represented a great time in the evolution of the Indian Super League and its clubs. In 2020, FC Goa became the first ever Indian club to compete in the AFC Champions League. Their league title in 2019/20 marked the beginning of a journey that would see them compete against one…

Over the past quarter-century, Japan has quietly emerged as a rising star in world football. Having reached the World Cup for the first time in 1998 only to lose all three matches, they would return to the competition four years later, co-hosting the tournament with South Korea. Whilst South Korea reached the semifinals, Japan would…

When Japan’s Urawa Reds met Saudi football behemoth Al Hilal in the showpiece event of the Asian club football calendar, the Asian Champions League final, many lamented the familiarity that this conclusion has kindled among followers of Asian club football. For the past six seasons, the ACL crown has gone to a side from the…