AFC
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | American Football Conference |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Sports, Military |
AFC has three meanings. The most common are American Football Conference (American football) and Asian Football Confederation (sports governing body); it can also stand for Air Force Cross.
Meanings of AFC at a glance
| # | AFC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Football Conference | Sports › American Football |
| 2 | Asian Football Confederation | Sports › Sports Governing Body |
| 3 | Air Force Cross | Military › Military Award and Decoration |
1. American Football Conference
Sports · American Football Abbreviations
One of the two NFL conferences, made up of 16 teams in the East, North, South and West divisions. Its champion, decided in the AFC Championship Game, represents it in the Super Bowl.
Example: The Chiefs reached the AFC Championship Game in seven straight seasons from 2018 to 2024.
Created in the 1970 merger from the ten AFL teams plus three NFL clubs: the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers. The champion receives the Lamar Hunt Trophy, named for the AFL founder. In soccer AFC usually means the Asian Football Confederation.
2. Asian Football Confederation
Sports · Sports Governing Body Abbreviations
Soccer confederation for Asia, with 47 member associations stretching from Lebanon to Japan and including Australia since 2006. It runs the AFC Asian Cup for national teams and the AFC Champions League Elite for clubs.
Example: Qatar retained the AFC Asian Cup on home soil in February 2024.
Founded in Manila on May 8, 1954, and headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Australia moved from the Oceania Football Confederation to the AFC in 2006 to gain a more competitive route to the World Cup. In American football, AFC means the NFL's American Football Conference, an unrelated meaning.
3. Air Force Cross
Military · Military Award and Decoration Abbreviations
Second-highest US Air Force and Space Force decoration for valor, awarded for extraordinary heroism in combat, equivalent to the Army's Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross.
Example: The pararescueman received the AFC for treating wounded soldiers under fire in Afghanistan.
The Air Force Cross was established in 1960; earlier airmen received the Army's DSC. Several awards have gone to pararescuemen and combat controllers. The British Air Force Cross, by contrast, recognizes gallantry while flying but not in active operations against the enemy.
Related abbreviations
More American football abbreviations
- 2PT – Two-point conversion
- ADP – Average draft position
- ATT – Attempts
- C – Center (American football)
- CB – Cornerback
- CFP – College Football Playoff
- CMP – Completions
- CPOY – Comeback Player of the Year
See all 80 American football abbreviations →
More sports governing body abbreviations
- AAU – Amateur Athletic Union
- AELTC – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
- BCCI – Board of Control for Cricket in India
- CAF – Confederation of African Football
- CAS – Court of Arbitration for Sport
- CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association…
- CONMEBOL – Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (South American Football…
- FA – The Football Association