Articles by Paul Williams

About Paul Williams

Paul Williams is an Adelaide-based football writer who has reported on the comings and goings of Asian football for the past decade. Having covered the past two Asian Cups, he writes regularly about the J.League for Optus Sport in Australia, while he also regularly contributes to Arab News. Further, he has previously been published by outlets such as FOX Sports Asia, Al Jazeera English, FourFourTwo, and appeared on numerous TV and radio shows to discuss Asian football.

Mousa Al-Tamari: The Asian star nobody talks about

June 17, 2026 Paul Williams

If the question was to be asked who was the best performing Asian player in Ligue 1 last season, your mind might automatically go to PSG’s Lee Kang-in. Of course, he scored three and had […]

Australia’s next generation deliver memorable win after selection gamble

June 14, 2026 Paul Williams

History is written by the victors, and so Tony Popovic’s bold selection gambles ahead of Australia’s opening clash with Turkiye will go down in folklore, alongside those of Guus Hiddink and Graham Arnold. When the […]

How Shomurodov became the symbol of a nation

June 10, 2026 Paul Williams

Ahead of a first FIFA World Cup appearance for both himself and his nation, Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov arrives at what feels like the defining moment of his career. After more than a decade spent […]

POD VERDICT: Who will win the ACL Elite Final?

April 24, 2026 Paul Williams

So the stage is set again for another compelling AFC Champions League Elite Final, between two teams with massively contrasting styles and stories. On one side, the giants of Jeddah, Al Ahli. The defending champions […]

EXCLUSIVE: Japan & Saudi Arabia big winners from ACL Elite shake-up

April 21, 2026 Paul Williams

Japan and Saudi Arabia stand to be the big winners from the revamped AFC Champions League, with as many as six clubs qualifying to participate in the AFC’s continental club competitions from next season onwards. […]

OPINION: Time for AFC to admit defeat on centralised Finals format

April 17, 2026 Paul Williams

Let me preface this by saying that I like and support the changes announced this week to future editions of the AFC Champions League Elite. A move from 24 to 32 teams makes sense, it […]

Kye Rowles on Socceroos, World Cup and moving to MLS

April 9, 2026 Paul Williams

There’s little more than a month remaining until Australian coach Tony Popovic names his squad for this year’s FIFA World Cup. Plenty of intrigue exists as to who will make the final cut, with defender […]

Popovic searching for answers as World Cup looms

March 27, 2026 Paul Williams

The door remains open. That is the message from Tony Popovic this week ahead of the final international window before he has to name his squad for this year’s FIFA World Cup squad. While some […]

Japan eye Women’s World Cup to boost local support

March 25, 2026 Paul Williams

Fresh from winning the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the third time in the last four editions, Japan are looking to capitalise on their success and use the momentum generated from their success in Australia […]

‘Better than Europe!’ Is women’s football ready for a new Gulf era?

March 24, 2026 Paul Williams

Picture this: a women’s football club that has within its squad players with a combined eight UEFA Women’s Champions League titles, one each of the Women’s Euros, Copa America Feminina, and an Olympic Gold Medal […]