Articles by Martin Lowe

About Martin Lowe

Martin Lowe is a freelance football writer who has been covering Asian football for the best part of the last decade. He appeared on Al Jazeera English television and Football Nation Radio during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, whilst writing for Sandals for Goalposts and other Asian football focused platforms. He has been a senior contributor to The Asian Game website since our launch in 2019.

Finally, the West will be won in the AFC Champions League

February 19, 2023 Martin Lowe

The AFC Champions League knockout stages in the West have finally arrived, after a gargantuan 10-month long wait since the group stage concluded back in May. Football rarely stands still, yet looking back at the […]

Is Queiroz the right man to take Qatar forward?

February 8, 2023 Martin Lowe

The long-awaited news that Carlos Queiroz will become Qatar national team coach was confirmed on Monday. The Portuguese pragmatist, who left Iran at the turn of the year, has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the […]

Club World Cup expansion a step in the right direction

January 30, 2023 Martin Lowe

Bigger is better, or so Gianni Infantino will have you believe. The FIFA president’s announcement that the Club World Cup would expand to 32 teams by 2025 was met with divided opinion to say the […]

Agony overshadows ecstasy as Iraq clinch Gulf Cup title

January 20, 2023 Martin Lowe

Agony, followed by ecstasy. The very best and worst that football can bring to a country will likely share the spotlight in defining the 25th edition of the Gulf Cup. While hosts Iraq can look […]

Bahrain emerging from the wilderness

January 12, 2023 Martin Lowe

The opening week of the 25th Gulf Cup has sure lived up to its billing. From the return of sold-out Iraqi stadiums to the widespread good feeling from those visiting the tournament in Basra, the […]

Iraq ready to take centre stage at historic Arabian Gulf Cup

January 4, 2023 Martin Lowe

Having enjoyed the world’s attention towards the end of 2022, the Arab world pivots to a more regional outlook for the upcoming 25th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup that greets the turn of the […]

OPINION: AFC must soon confront the looming question over Russia

December 20, 2022 Martin Lowe

As the world revels in the aftermath of Lionel Messi’s career pinnacle, the pace of change in international football propels us forward towards a new year, and a new cycle on the road to World […]

Anatomy of Disaster: Where did it go so wrong for Qatar?

December 13, 2022 Martin Lowe

The Asian Game’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC. Twelve years in the making, it took Qatar only five days to exit their first World Cup, becoming statistically […]

Match Preview: Poland vs Saudi Arabia

November 26, 2022 Martin Lowe

The Asian Game’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC. Wild celebrations, viral half-time speeches, a national holiday; few will have predicted the outpouring of emotion that greeted Saudi […]

Fortune favours the brave

November 25, 2022 Martin Lowe

The Asian Game’s coverage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is proudly sponsored by SMC. A week is a long time in football, even longer during a World Cup. From the derailing start courtesy […]