Who are AS FAR? Arsenal’s Champions Cup military opponents founded by the king | OneFootball

Arsenal women kick off their Champions Cup journey on Wednesday night with a semi-final against AS FAR in the semi-finals.

The Moroccan side is a very unique team that was formed by the nation’s military.

Who are AS FAR?

There aren’t many clubs in the world that are like AS FAR.

The club was first formed in 1958 by the late Moulay El Hassan II, formerly the king of Morocco.

AS FAR was first created by El Hassan for the military. The abbreviation for AS FAR is Association Sportive des Forces Armées Royales – which literally means Royal Armed Forces Sports Association.

With no ties to any associations in Africa, AS FAR is one of the most advanced clubs in the continent.

The team was the first recognised African club to go professional in 2020/21.

AS FAR has dominated the domestic leagues in the past decade and they earned a spot in the Champions Cup after finishing top of the UNAF (North African) zonal competition.

The Moroccan side was named African team of the year once again in 2025.

Champions Cup: A dream for AS FAR

Playing in the inaugural Champions Cup tournament is a huge honour for all the teams involved.

AS FAR will face Champions League winners, Arsenal, in the semi-final on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of the biggest clash in the team’s history, former AS FAR player and president of the Moroccan league Khadija Illa said: “I’m just sorry for myself because I wanted to live in this moment when I was a player… But when I see the girls now living the dream, I feel like I’m living it.”

“Twenty years ago, you could’ve asked: ‘Is anyone playing in Morocco?’ Now we’re the champions of Africa going to play Arsenal.”

AS FAR have never played a team like Arsenal, but they can’t be underestimated in the Champions Cup this year.

“It really is a dream,” Illa continued. “Before I could never had dreamed that girls in Morocco could play against Arsenal or in London – but now it’s a reality.”

The Moroccan team has plenty of internationals within their ranks. They will be confident on causing Arsenal trouble at the Gtech Community Stadium, despite coming into the game as underdogs.