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.

Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan prepare for do-or-die battle

June 15, 2021 Martin Lowe

After nearly two years of extended gameplay, Round 2 of FIFA World Cup qualification in Asia draws to a close on Tuesday. As we predicted two weeks ago ahead of the culminating centralised format, and […]

Cruel blow curtails Turkmen dreams

June 3, 2021 Martin Lowe

There are few teams the world over, that mix intrigue with a genuine shock factor the way Turkmenistan and its domestic football scene does. Yet as we set ourselves up for the final run at […]

Asia readies itself for pivotal fortnight

June 2, 2021 Martin Lowe

A 10-0 victory for Japan over Myanmar on Friday. A 7-0 win for China over Guam on Sunday. Following on from an emphatically one-sided March (three matches, 22-0 cumulative scoreline), World Cup qualification in Asia is […]

Fortune favours the brave in expanded ACL

May 2, 2021 Martin Lowe

After an adrenaline-fuelled 60 matches across 16 days, the AFC Champions League group stage has drawn to a close in the West. A non-stop feast of football that had fans gasping for air after half […]

Istiklol ready to fly the flag for Tajik football

April 14, 2021 Martin Lowe

This week marks the return of this year’s AFC Champions League. While it emerges later than planned, hosted in centralised venues across the region rather than the traditional home and away format, the new campaign […]

Mongolia’s progress to be tested amid hectic schedule

March 24, 2021 Martin Lowe

We’re about to hit what should have been the half way point along the Road to Qatar 2022 and while no one could’ve expected it to transpire as it has done so far, with only […]

OPINION: Is it time Asia introduced a Nations League?

March 23, 2021 Martin Lowe

It’s been over 16 months since we last had regular competitive international football across the whole of Asia. With this month’s World Cup qualification round of matches hit again by the disruption of a global […]

Pakhtakor the hunted as Uzbek Super League kicks off

March 9, 2021 Martin Lowe

The sight of Pakhtakor lifting yet another piece of silverware this past weekend, which has become increasingly commonplace in Uzbek football of late, was indeed a familiar one. At the turn of a new domestic […]

Qatar takes the lead in Asia, but now need to deliver where it matters

December 4, 2020 Martin Lowe

Fresh from saving this year’s domestic continental season in Asia, Qatar go one step further this week, with a parting gift to a year of misery in international football. Over a year has passed since […]

Tajikistan succumbs to COVID-19

May 8, 2020 Martin Lowe

This week’s major news story in Asian football features the long awaited return of the K League, whilst those in Europe are left salivating by the news of the German Budnesliga’s resumption by the middle […]