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.

Silence to Stardom: the story of Malaysia’s Arif Aiman

January 15, 2024 Paul Williams

Arif Aiman has become a goal and assists king for Johor Darul Ta’zim, or JDT as they’re best known, over the past couple of seasons, but it’s one play, for which he won’t be credited […]

OPINION: As Asian Cup begins, the sun sets on Qatar

January 12, 2024 Paul Williams

As the sun rises over Doha’s glorious West Bay to signal the start of the 18th AFC Asian Cup, so does the sun also begin to set on Qatar’s time in the spotlight of international […]

OPINION: Women’s World Cup success makes AFC’s choice an easy one

August 21, 2023 Paul Williams

AFC president Shaikh Salman has been conspicuous by his absence over the past month, invisible at a World Cup hosted in the Confederation of which he is the president, but surely even he wasn’t able […]

Kerr returns as Australia advance to quarter finals

August 7, 2023 Paul Williams

Australia has equalled their best ever performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, defeating Denmark 2-0 to reach the quarter finals in front a record equalling crowd at Stadium Australia. Goals in either half to […]

Australia overcome loss of Kerr to defeat Ireland

July 20, 2023 Paul Williams

Sam Kerr leaping into the air to celebrate a goal was what all of Australia wanted to see at Stadium Australia on Thursday night. What they wouldn’t have anticipated, however, is that she would be […]

Women’s World Cup Preview: Australia

July 20, 2023 Paul Williams

This is the moment Australia has waited 1120 days for. From the moment Gianni Infantino declared Australia and New Zealand would host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, every aspect of Australian football has been […]

The best is yet to come: Fayzullaev

July 4, 2023 Paul Williams

Uzbek teen sensation Abbosbek Fayzullaev has boldly declared his nation will finally end their World Cup drought and qualify for the next global showpiece in 2026. On the back of winning the AFC U20 Asian […]

Argentina’s China jaunt full of intrigue

May 25, 2023 Paul Williams

That Australia will face Argentina, in Beijing of all places, in a re-match of their thrilling Round of 16 encounter at last year’s World Cup, is notable for a number of reasons. It speaks to […]

OPINION: AFC to rob the ACL of its soul

May 9, 2023 Paul Williams

Have you ever seen a Tifo quite like it? The fans of Urawa Red Diamonds are known across the continent, in fact probably across the world, for their full stadium Tifo efforts at previous AFC […]

Urawa and Al Hilal ready to battle for ultimate Asian supremacy

May 5, 2023 Paul Williams

The AFC Champions League final is always a marquee fixture on the calendar, but it takes on a bit more meaning when Al Hilal and Urawa Red Diamonds are involved. They may be separated by […]