2023 AFC Asian Cup
The 2023 AFC Asian Cup will be the 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the quadrennial international men's football championship of Asia organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It will involve 24 national teams after expansion in 2019, with Qatar as the defending champions.[1][2]
كأس آسيا 2023 | |
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Tournament details | |
Host country | Qatar |
Dates | 12 January – 10 February 2024 |
Teams | 24 (from 1 confederation) |
Venue(s) | 8 (in 4 host cities) |
The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in China from 16 June to 16 July 2023.[3] On 14 May 2022, the AFC announced that China would not host the tournament due to the circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and China's Zero-COVID policy.[4]
On 17 October, the AFC announced that the tournament will be held in Qatar.[5] Qatar will become the first country to host three Asian Cups, after 1988 and 2011.[6] Due to the high summer temperatures in the Persian Gulf and Qatar's participation in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the tournament was postponed to 12 January – 10 February 2024.[7][8]
Host selection
China was announced as the winning bid on 4 June 2019, on the eve of the 69th FIFA Congress in Paris, France.[9] However, due to China's relinquishment of its hosting rights,[10][11] the AFC conducted a second round of bidding, with a deadline for submissions scheduled on 17 October 2022.[12]
Four nations had submitted bids: Australia, Indonesia, Qatar and South Korea,[13] but Australia subsequently withdrew in September 2022[14] and Indonesia on 15 October.[15] On 17 October, the AFC announced that Qatar won the bid and will host the tournament.[5]
Teams

The first two rounds of qualification also served as the Asian qualification for the 2022 World Cup. Qatar, the host of World Cup participated only in the second round solely to qualification for the 2023 Asian Cup, later also host the Asian Cup.
Qualified teams
Team | Method of qualification |
Date of qualification |
Finals appearances |
Last appearance |
Previous best performance |
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![]() | Second round Group E winners / Hosts | 7 June 2021 | 11th | 2019 | Winners (2019) |
![]() | Second round Group F winners | 28 May 2021 | 10th | 2019 | Winners (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011) |
![]() | Second round Group A winners | 7 June 2021 | 7th | 2019 | Group stage (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2011, 2019) |
![]() | Second round Group H winners | 9 June 2021 | 15th | 2019 | Winners (1956, 1960) |
![]() | Second round Group B winners | 11 June 2021 | 5th | 2019 | Winners (2015) |
![]() | Second round Group C winners | 15 June 2021 | 15th | 2019 | Winners (1968, 1972, 1976) |
![]() | Second round Group D winners | 15 June 2021 | 11th | 2019 | Winners (1984, 1988, 1996) |
![]() | Second round Group G winners | 15 June 2021 | 11th | 2019 | Runners-up (1996) |
![]() | Second round Group A runners-up | 15 June 2021 | 13th | 2019 | Runners-up (1984, 2004) |
![]() | Second round Group C runners-up | 15 June 2021 | 10th | 2019 | Winners (2007) |
![]() | Second round Group E runners-up | 15 June 2021 | 5th | 2019 | Round of 16 (2019) |
![]() | Second round Group G runners-up | 15 June 2021 | 5th | 2019 | Fourth place (1956[lower-alpha 1], 1960[lower-alpha 1]) |
![]() | Second round Group H runners-up | 15 June 2021 | 3rd | 2019 | Group stage (2000, 2019) |
![]() | Third round Group B winners | 14 June 2022 | 3rd | 2019 | Group stage (2015, 2019) |
![]() | Third round Group C winners | 14 June 2022 | 8th | 2019 | Fourth place (2011) |
![]() | Third round Group C runners-up | 14 June 2022 | 8th | 2019 | Third place (1972) |
![]() | Third round Group D winners | 14 June 2022 | 5th | 2019 | Runners-up (1964) |
![]() | Third round Group D runners-up | 14 June 2022 | 4th | 1968 | Third place (1956) |
![]() | Third round Group F winners | 14 June 2022 | 1st | Debut | None |
![]() | Third round Group F runners-up | 14 June 2022 | 2nd | 2019 | Round of 16 (2019) |
![]() | Third round Group E winners | 14 June 2022 | 7th | 2019 | Fourth place (2004) |
![]() | Third round Group E runners-up | 14 June 2022 | 4th | 2007 | Group stage (1976, 1980, 2007) |
![]() | Third round Group A winners | 14 June 2022 | 5th | 2019 | Quarter-finals (2004, 2011) |
![]() | Third round Group A runners-up | 14 June 2022 | 5th | 2007 | Group stage (1996, 2000, 2004, 2007) |
Draw
The draw was held in Katara Opera House in Doha on 11 May 2023 at 14:00 AST (UTC+3).[16]
Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
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Draw result
Teams were drawn consecutively into Group A to F. For the first time in AFC Asian Cup history, the teams from lowest pots were drawn first but not assigned to the positions of their groups following by number orders of group stage as happened in previous editions. Pot 1 teams were assigned to the first positions of their groups, while next the positions of all other teams were drawn separately from Pot 4 to 2 (for the purposes of determining the match schedules in each group).
The draw resulted in the following groups:
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Venues
Five host cities were submitted in the 2023 bid, including seven stadiums prepared for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. On 5 April 2023, AFC announced eight stadiums across four host cities for the tournament.[18] All (except Lusail and 974) of the stadiums also played host to matches at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, whilst 3 stadiums (except Thani bin Jassim and Suheim bin Hamad) also played host to matches at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor will host the opening match on 12 January. Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and Al Thumama Stadium in Doha will host the semi-finals matches; and Al Bayt Stadium will host the final which will be held on 10 February.
Doha | ||
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Al Thumama Stadium | Jassim bin Hamad Stadium | Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium |
Capacity: 44,400 | Capacity: 13,030 | Capacity: 10,000 |
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Al Khor | ||
Al Bayt Stadium | ||
Capacity: 68,895 | ||
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Al Wakrah | ||
Al Janoub Stadium | ||
Capacity: 44,325 | ||
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Al Rayyan | ||
Khalifa International Stadium | Ahmad bin Ali Stadium | Education City Stadium |
Capacity: 45,857 | Capacity: 45,032 | Capacity: 44,667 |
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Group stage
All times are local, AST (UTC+3).
Tiebreakers
Teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings:[1]
- Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
- Goal difference in all group matches;
- Goals scored in all group matches;
- Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they are playing each other in the last round of the group;
- Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
- Drawing of lots.
Group A
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
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1 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
2 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Possible knockout stage |
4 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
(H) Host
Group B
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
2 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Possible knockout stage |
4 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group C
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
2 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Possible knockout stage |
4 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group D
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
2 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Possible knockout stage |
4 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group E
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
2 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Possible knockout stage |
4 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Group F
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
2 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Possible knockout stage |
4 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ranking of third-placed teams
The four best third-placed teams from the six groups advance to the knockout stage along with the six group winners and six runners-up.
Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
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1 | A | Team 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
2 | B | Team 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
3 | C | Team 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
4 | D | Team 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
5 | E | Team 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
6 | F | Team 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Combinations of matches in the round of 16
The specific match-ups involving the third-placed teams depended on which four third-placed teams qualified for the round of 16:
Third-placed teams qualify from groups |
1A vs |
1B vs |
1C vs |
1D vs | ||||||
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A | B | C | D | 3C | 3D | 3A | 3B | |||
A | B | C | E | 3C | 3A | 3B | 3E | |||
A | B | C | F | 3C | 3A | 3B | 3F | |||
A | B | D | E | 3D | 3A | 3B | 3E | |||
A | B | D | F | 3D | 3A | 3B | 3F | |||
A | B | E | F | 3E | 3A | 3B | 3F | |||
A | C | D | E | 3C | 3D | 3A | 3E | |||
A | C | D | F | 3C | 3D | 3A | 3F | |||
A | C | E | F | 3C | 3A | 3F | 3E | |||
A | D | E | F | 3D | 3A | 3F | 3E | |||
B | C | D | E | 3C | 3D | 3B | 3E | |||
B | C | D | F | 3C | 3D | 3B | 3F | |||
B | C | E | F | 3E | 3C | 3B | 3F | |||
B | D | E | F | 3E | 3D | 3B | 3F | |||
C | D | E | F | 3C | 3D | 3F | 3E |
Knockout stage
In the knockout stage, extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary.
Bracket
Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||
28 January 2024 – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali) | ||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group A | ||||||||||||||
2 February 2024 – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali) | ||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group C | ||||||||||||||
29 January 2024 – Al Rayyan (Khalifa) | ||||||||||||||
Winner Group D | ||||||||||||||
6 February 2024 – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali) | ||||||||||||||
3rd Group B/E/F | ||||||||||||||
28 January 2024 – Doha (Jassim bin Hamad) | ||||||||||||||
Winner Group B | ||||||||||||||
2 February 2024 – Al Rayyan (Education) | ||||||||||||||
3rd Group A/C/D | ||||||||||||||
30 January 2024 – Al Rayyan (Education) | ||||||||||||||
Winner Group F | ||||||||||||||
10 February 2024 – Al Khor | ||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group E | ||||||||||||||
31 January 2024 – Doha (Abdullah bin Khalifa) | ||||||||||||||
Winner Group C | ||||||||||||||
3 February 2024 – Al Wakrah | ||||||||||||||
3rd Group A/B/F | ||||||||||||||
31 January 2024 – Doha (Al Thumama) | ||||||||||||||
Winner Group E | ||||||||||||||
7 February 2024 – Doha (Al Thumama) | ||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group D | ||||||||||||||
29 January 2024 – Al Khor | ||||||||||||||
Winner Group A | ||||||||||||||
3 February 2024 – Al Khor | ||||||||||||||
3rd Group C/D/E | ||||||||||||||
30 January 2024 – Al Wakrah | ||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group B | ||||||||||||||
Runner-up Group F | ||||||||||||||
Round of 16
Winner Group B | Match 37 | Third-place Group A/C/D |
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Runner-up Group A | Match 38 | Runner-up Group C |
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Winner Group D | Match 39 | Third-place Group B/E/F |
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Winner Group A | Match 40 | Third-place Group C/D/E |
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Runner-up Group B | Match 41 | Runner-up Group F |
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Winner Group F | Match 42 | Runner-up Group E |
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Winner Group E | Match 43 | Runner-up Group D |
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Winner Group C | Match 44 | Third-place Group A/B/F |
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Quarter-finals
Winner Match 38 | Match 45 | Winner Match 39 |
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Winner Match 37 | Match 46 | Winner Match 42 |
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Winner Match 44 | Match 47 | Winner Match 43 |
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Winner Match 40 | Match 48 | Winner Match 41 |
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Semi-finals
Winner Match 45 | Match 49 | Winner Match 46 |
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Winner Match 47 | Match 50 | Winner Match 48 |
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Final
Winner Match 49 | Match 51 | Winner Match 50 |
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Notes
References
- "Competition Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- "Qatar stuns Japan to win Asian Cup". 2 February 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- "AFC Asian Cup China 2023 competition dates confirmed". Asian Football Confederation. 7 January 2021. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
- "Important update on AFC Asian Cup 2023 hosts". Asian Football Confederation. 14 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- "Qatar to host AFC Asian Cup 2023; India and Saudi Arabia shortlisted for 2027 edition". Asian Football Confederation. 17 October 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- "Hosting the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar strengthens the perfect investment of the 2022 World Cup". 23 August 2020. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- "Qatar to host 2023 AFC Asian Cup in January". Doha News. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
- "Qatar Wins 2023 Asian Cup Bid Just Over A Decade After It Last Hosted The Tournament". 17 October 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- "China confirmed as 2023 Asian Cup hosts – AFC". Eurosport. 4 June 2019. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- "China withdraw as AFC Asian Cup 2023 hosts". ESPN. 14 May 2022. Archived from the original on 7 June 2022. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- "AFC Seeks New Host for 2023 Asian Cup After China's Withdrawal". 31 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
- "AFC extends AFC Asian Cup 2023 EoI deadline to July 15, 2022". Asian Football Confederation. 28 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- "Four Expressions of Interest received to host AFC Asian Cup 2023". Asian Football Confederation. 18 July 2022. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- "AFC Asian Cup 2023 hosting rights bid update". 2 September 2022.
- Skor.id (15 October 2022). Budiman, Aditya (ed.). "Dua Kandidat Tuan Rumah Piala Asia 2023, Indonesia Tersingkir". Tempo.co (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- "Seeding for AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Final Draw confirmed". the-AFC. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
- "FIFA World Rankings". FIFA. 6 April 2023.
- "AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Stadiums". the-AFC. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
External links
- AFC Asian Cup, the-AFC.com