EXPLORE THE ASIAN GAME
Football through an Asian lens.
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Martin Lowe
Martin Lowe is a freelance football writer, having covered Asian football for over a decade. He has appeared on the BBC, Al Jazeera English and The Mirror, covering some of the biggest stories and developments in Asian football. He has been a senior contributor at The Asian Game website since its launch in 2019.
More from Martin Lowe
The Nations League is coming: The AFC’s plan to reshape Asian football
Three tiers, promotion and relegation, a biennial finals series and new pathways to the Asian Cup...
More football, or better football? Asia’s international game at a crossroads
From Southeast Asia to the Gulf, regional tournaments remain deeply embedded in Asian football culture. But...
Old stars, new threats and Saudi warning signs
Takashi Usami rolled back the years, Esteghlal upset expectations and Saudi Arabia’s heavyweights found life difficult...
Islom Ismoilov: The face of a new Uzbek football
At just 34, Islom Ismoilov is already reshaping expectations of an Uzbek coach. Now, as Neftchi...
The price of progress: Southeast Asia’s Champions League gamble
Southeast Asia enters the new AFC Champions League Elite with unprecedented opportunity. But as Thailand, Vietnam...
Watkins and Saudi football’s battle for respect
Three years since the Saudi Pro League began challenging football’s established order, the response from Europe…
The power behind Kyrgyzstan’s progress
Kyrgyz football has entered a new era. But beside that progress lies an increasingly uncertain political...
Uzbekistan dealt harsh lesson by Portugal
Six minutes. That was all it took for Portugal to breach the Uzbek rearguard and open…
Uzbekistan left to rue costly mistakes in World Cup debut
Uzbekistan’s long awaited first ever FIFA World Cup appearance ultimately ended in defeat, losing 3-1 to…
Saudi Arabia earn precious point, but questions remain ahead of Spain showdown
Asia’s miraculous unbeaten start to the World Cup continues, as Saudi Arabia turned expectations on their…
Is history about to repeat for Qatar on the world stage?
Three and a half years on from their infamous group stage elimination, Qatar return to the…
Cannavaro names extended squad as Uzbekistan begin World Cup preparations
The year 2026 always shaped up to be a significant one for Uzbek football, and with…