TLDR: The 8th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Medical Conference, held in Kuala Lumpur from July 21 to 25, 2025, is set to gather over 700 medical professionals. The conference, themed ‘Medicine and Science – Navigating Through Changing Times,’ will delve into cutting-edge advancements in sports medicine, with a significant emphasis on emerging trends such as artificial intelligence, genomics, and women’s football. Pre-conference workshops will cover emergency medicine and physiotherapy, while the main event aims to foster strategic collaboration for the advancement of sports medicine in Asia.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The 8th Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Medical Conference is underway in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from July 21 to 25, 2025, bringing together more than 700 medical professionals and leading global experts. The landmark event, themed ‘Medicine and Science – Navigating Through Changing Times,’ marks 30 years since its inaugural edition in Tokyo in 1995, celebrating three decades of progress in football medicine across the continent.
The conference serves as a premier platform for strategic collaboration aimed at advancing sports medicine in Asia. Delegates can expect an in-depth exploration of emerging trends, including the integration of artificial intelligence technologies in athlete care and injury prevention, genomics, and the growing focus on women’s football. Other key topics include evidence-based injury prevention, and specific considerations for women and youth footballers.
Pre-conference workshops and seminars, held on July 21 and 22, covered vital areas such as football emergency medicine, sports physiotherapy, anti-doping procedures, and hands-on musculoskeletal ultrasound. The main conference program will feature keynote addresses, lectures, symposia, poster presentations, and clinical workshops, also touching upon subjects like shared decisions on ‘Return to Play’ and recreational football for all ages and players with special needs.
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa emphasized the importance of education in his welcome message, stating, “The AFC believes that education is the cornerstone of realising our bold ambitions of being a leading Confederation and the AFC Medical Conference embodies our dedication to providing the latest knowledge and innovative practices to those who serve at the forefront of sports medicine.” He added, “I have no doubt this edition in Kuala Lumpur will prove to be the perfect platform for medical professionals from across Asia to share insights and expertise that will inspire growth and chart our continued progress in the years to come.”
The conference is supported by FIFA and Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital as the Premier Partner, with more than 20 experts from Aspetar contributing to the program, including presentations on artificial intelligence in sports medicine. The event will also host leading figures from the global medical community, such as Dr. Ramon Cugat, President of the Medical Council of the Catalan Football Federation, and Dr. Kat Okholm Kryger, Senior Lecturer in Sports Rehabilitation at St. Mary’s University.
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In line with previous editions, the conference will also host the prestigious 4th AFC Medical Awards on July 24, recognizing medical professionals for their outstanding contributions to football medicine in Asia.
