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.

AFC Asian Cup Draw: who’s hot and who’s not (Part II)

May 11, 2023 Martin Lowe

The path to the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2023 has been far from a smooth one, but after riding the waves of a global pandemic, team withdrawals and a late hosting switch, Thursday’s group stage […]

AFC Asian Cup Draw: who’s hot and who’s not

May 10, 2023 Martin Lowe

The path to the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2023 has been far from a smooth one, but after riding the waves of a global pandemic, team withdrawals and a late hosting switch, Thursday’s group stage […]

Al Hilal out to continue dominance of Asia

April 24, 2023 Martin Lowe

Following a quite surreal competition that has stretched more than 12 months in its entirety, played extensively in sparsely attended neutral venues, the 2022 edition of the AFC Champions League will finally conclude in rather […]

Mixed emotions as Renard departs Saudi Arabia

March 29, 2023 Martin Lowe

If he could’ve selected his preferred exit, probably having it confirmed online half way through a drab 2-1 defeat at home to Bolivia wasn’t exactly the send-off Herve Renard had in mind. As Saudi Arabia […]

Russia continues to consider a future in Asia ahead of Iran and Iraq friendlies

March 24, 2023 Martin Lowe

March welcomes the return of international football for 2023. The first of 17 FIFA windows and 44 potential matchdays between now and the World Cup in 2026; the long trail towards USA, Canada and Mexico […]

Uzbekistan provide a glimpse into a positive future

March 22, 2023 Martin Lowe

Following their run to the final of last year’s AFC U23 Asian Cup, Uzbekistan went one step further in clinching the AFC U20 Asian Cup in front of a sell-out Tashkent crowd on Saturday afternoon. […]

Uzbek Super League kicks off amid renewed optimism

March 3, 2023 Martin Lowe

As the new Super League season resumes this weekend, Uzbek football is buoyant, generating increased interest inside and out of the country’s borders. With renewed optimism placed on the new youth structures in place across […]

Al Hilal continue dominance of Asia’s west

February 27, 2023 Martin Lowe

Some things in Asian football are entirely predictable after all; Al Hilal progress to the AFC Champions League final for the third time in four years, following an emphatic 7-0 victory over Al-Duhail, a match […]

Asia’s ‘Generation Next’ ready to shine in Uzbekistan

February 27, 2023 Martin Lowe

The AFC U20 Asian Cup kicks off this Wednesday in Tashkent, as Uzbekistan play host to a second continental youth showpiece in the space of a year. March’s finals will be the first edition played […]

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 […]