KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur welcomes over 700 sports medicine professionals from around the world as the 8th AFC Medical Conference 2025 begins today. Running from July 21 to 25, the conference marks 30 years of progress in football medicine since its inception in Tokyo in 1995.
Organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and supported by FIFA and Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital — an AFC Medical Centre of Excellence — this year’s edition is themed “Science and Medicine: Navigating through Changing Times.” The event tackles the challenges of modern football and highlights innovations in athlete care and sports science.
The conference opens with two days of pre-conference workshops and seminars, setting the stage for a packed main program focused on strategic insights, cutting-edge research, and international collaboration in sports medicine.
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa stated:
“The AFC believes that education is the cornerstone of realising our bold ambitions of being a leading Confederation. The AFC Medical Conference embodies our dedication to providing the latest knowledge and innovative practices to those who serve at the forefront of sports medicine.”
Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa
This year’s lineup features more than 120 leading experts in the field. Key speakers include Dr. Andrew Massey, FIFA Medical Director; Dr. Peiter D’Hooghe, Chief Medical Officer at Aspetar; and Dr. Ramon Cugat, President of the Medical Council of the Catalan Football Federation.
Participants
Other notable presenters are Dr. Kat Okholm Kryger, Senior Lecturer in Sports Rehabilitation at St Mary’s University, and Dr. Celeste Geertsema, Co-Chair of the IOC Medical Expert Group for the Olympic Games.
Topics span artificial intelligence in injury prevention, advances in athlete health monitoring, and women’s health in football. Through lectures, panels, and symposiums, the conference aims to shape the future of football medicine in Asia and globally. The event will also include the prestigious AFC Medical Awards, honouring medical professionals for their outstanding contributions to the sport.
