The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is an organisation regulating all Asian soccer, and is one of the six continental associations that make up FIFA. It governs 46 member associations from countries and regions representing over half of the world's population. Established in 1954, the AFC is now headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from which it conducts duties that include regulating soccer across all of Asia, proposing new rules for the further development of the sport, promoting youth soccer, and organising a range of tournament events.
The deal will see Konami working closely with the AFC to integrate the club competition into forthcoming Pro Evolution Soccer titles. The game, which enjoys a global presence, will feature a dedicated mode, allowing users to control one of the 32 teams that compete in the AFC Champions League tournament.
The Pro Evolution Soccer series holds a wide range of soccer licenses from around the world, including Europe's premier club competition and the UEFA Champions League. Since its inception, the series has enjoyed wide-ranging acclaim worldwide, and the addition of Asia's highly-regarded club competition will only serve to extend its range and awareness within football fans across the globe.
"With each new Pro Evolution Soccer title, this franchise continues to grow in popularity, winning fans over with its refined gameplay and realistic control." said Tomoyuki Tsuboi, President of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "In an effort to show our commitment to the expansion of licenses, we have forged a new partnership with the Asian Football Confederation. We look forward to working closely with the AFC Champions League to bring fans the next level of football video gaming."
"Konami is rightly regarded as the leader in the field of football video games and their expertise and enthusiasm shines through," commented Dr.Hafez Al Medlej, Chairman of the Asian Football Confederation Marketing Committee. "We are very excited to see the AFC Champions League integrated into the acclaimed Pro Evolution Soccer series, and foresee a long, close and mutually beneficial partnership for us both."