West Asian Football Federation
The West Asian Football Federation is an Asian Football Confederation regional body that organizes and administers football, futsal, and beach football across West Asia.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The West Asian Football Federation, commonly abbreviated as WAFF, is a regional football governing organization operating under the Asian Football Confederation. Established in 2001, it coordinates association football in West Asia and serves as a platform for national football associations from the region to cooperate on competitions, administration, and sporting development. Its activities cover men's and women's football as well as futsal and beach football. The federation was initially created by six national associations: Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. Its membership expanded in 2009 when Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen joined. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia entered the organization in 2010, bringing the membership to 13 associations at its largest stated size. Iran subsequently departed on 10 June 2014 following the establishment of the Central Asian Football Association, a separate AFC regional sub-confederation. The federation is described as consisting of 12 member associations after that departure. WAFF's principal public-facing role is competition organization. It provides regional championships and tournament structures through which member associations can field senior and youth national teams. Its sporting scope is broader than men's senior outdoor football: the federation also administers or supports women's football, age-group football, futsal, and beach football. These competitions give national teams in West Asia opportunities for regular regional fixtures in addition to AFC and FIFA competitions. The federation is based in Jordan according to the supplied organizational profile, although a more specific headquarters address is not established in the available reference material. Its identity is institutional rather than commercial: WAFF is not a consumer product brand, publicly listed company, or club. Its stakeholders are national football associations, players, coaches, officials, supporters, and the wider AFC football system. The organization's positioning is therefore centered on regional representation, competition development, and coordination among West Asian football authorities. WAFF has also appeared in wider AFC governance discussions. After Iraq and the United Arab Emirates were eliminated from the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, reports on 29 January 2015 said that members of the federation sought Australia's removal from the AFC. The reported criticism concerned perceptions that Australia benefited substantially from participation in Asian football while contributing insufficiently in return. The episode illustrated the political and competitive tensions that can arise within a large continental confederation, although the available material does not document a resulting change to AFC membership. As an AFC regional sub-confederation, WAFF should be understood as a governing and competition-organizing institution rather than as a conventional commercial brand. Its visibility is derived from national-team tournaments, regional football diplomacy, and the development of multiple forms of the sport across West Asia.
History
The West Asian Football Federation was founded in 2001 as a regional association within the Asian Football Confederation. Its creation brought together football authorities from West Asia in a structure intended to support regional competition and cooperation. The founding membership comprised Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. The federation expanded during the following decade. Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen joined in 2009. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia followed in 2010. This expansion gave WAFF a broad membership across the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, alongside Iran and Iraq. The organization consequently became an important regional platform for national-team football and related forms of the sport. A significant institutional change occurred on 10 June 2014, when Iran left WAFF following the creation of the Central Asian Football Association. Iran's departure reflected the AFC's division of its member associations into more specialized regional groupings. After the change, WAFF is described as having 12 member associations. WAFF's remit extends beyond the men's senior outdoor game. The federation governs or organizes football activity involving men's and women's national teams, youth sides, futsal, and beach football. Its competitions provide regional fixtures and development opportunities for member associations, complementing tournaments administered directly by the AFC and FIFA. The federation also serves as a channel for regional football administration and representation. The organization drew attention during a dispute reported in January 2015. Following the elimination of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates from the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, WAFF members were reported to have sought Australia's removal from the AFC. The reported criticism focused on Australia's perceived benefits from involvement in Asian football and whether its contribution to the continental system was adequate. The available reference does not establish that the proposal succeeded or led to a formal change in AFC membership. WAFF remains an active regional football body associated with Jordan and operating within the AFC framework. Its institutional identity is defined by competition organization, national-association coordination, and the development of football in its geographic region rather than by commercial ownership or consumer products.
- 2015
Reported AFC membership dispute involving Australia
[1]Reports said that WAFF members sought Australia's removal from the AFC after the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, citing concerns about Australia's perceived contribution to Asian football.
- 2014
Iran left the federation
[1]Iran withdrew from WAFF on 10 June 2014 after the creation of the Central Asian Football Association.
- 2010
Further membership expansion
[1]Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia joined WAFF.
- 2009
Membership expanded
[1]Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen joined the federation.
- 2001
Federation founded
[1]The West Asian Football Federation was established by Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria.
Products and positioning
A regional football governing and competition-organizing body representing West Asian national associations within the Asian Football Confederation.
National-team football competition
WAFF regional football championships
Regional competitions organized for national football associations in West Asia. These tournaments provide competitive fixtures for senior and other national teams and form the core of WAFF's public sporting activity.
Youth football competition
WAFF youth championships
Age-group national-team competitions intended to provide development and international match experience for young players from WAFF member associations. The available reference identifies youth championships as part of the federation's competition portfolio but does not specify every edition or age category.
Women's football competition
WAFF women's football competitions
Women's national-team football activities organized within the federation's regional remit. These competitions support participation and competitive opportunities for women's teams from West Asian associations.
Alternative football formats
WAFF futsal and beach football activities
Regional administration and competition activity for futsal and beach football. Their inclusion demonstrates that WAFF's remit encompasses multiple football formats rather than only the conventional outdoor men's game.
Recent events
- 2015
WAFF members reportedly sought Australia's removal from the AFC[1]
Other
Reports dated 29 January 2015 said that members of the West Asian Football Federation sought to remove Australia from the Asian Football Confederation after Iraq and the United Arab Emirates lost at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. The reported argument was that Australia gained significant advantages from Asian participation without making a commensurate contribution.
Sources2 sources
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