After a whirlwind 2022, the year 2023 looks set to be just as big – particularly for Asian football.
Not only is the Women’s World Cup being hosted in Australia and New Zealand, but the next men’s AFC Asian Cup is also due to roll around willing the four-year cycle does in fact continue.
The 2019 tournament saw Qatar triumph for the first time with defending champions, Australia, knocked out in the quarter-finals.
With a number of Asian teams impressing at the 2022 World Cup, including the Socceroos, the next AFC Asian Cup looks poised to garner more attention than ever before.
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When is the next AFC Asian Cup?
With the exception of 2007, which saw the tournament shifted to odd years, the AFC Asian Cup has historically been held every four years.
The next AFC Asian Cup was originally planned to be played in June and July of 2023 but that timing is now in doubt.
While there remains a FIFA window for the tournament at that time, a new host means new dates may also now be needed.
Reuters have reported that the next AFC Asian Cup may be shifted to early 2024 with no confirmation either way just yet.
🇯🇵 Japan end the year as Asia’s best in the latest #FIFARanking!
🇦🇺 Australia move up 11 spots to be in the world’s top 30 for the first time since 2012! pic.twitter.com/23ys7Pyul2
— #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) December 22, 2022
Where is the next AFC Asian Cup?
The 2023 AFC Asian Cup hosting rights were originally awarded to China in 2019.
COVID-19 and the country’s previously strict handling of the pandemic, however, meant they relinquished those rights in 2022.
Qatar were then ultimately named the new hosts in October 2022 beating out competition from Indonesia and South Korea.
The Middle East nation held the 2022 FIFA World Cup which was pushed back to November and December due to the extreme heat in Qatar.
The Qatar Football Association (QFA) have proposed for the next AFC Asian Cup to be postponed until January 24, 2024 to accomodate the conditions in the country.
Teams qualified for the AFC Asian Cup
A total of 24 nations have qualified for the next AFC Asian Cup with qualifying beginning back in June 2019 and completed three years later.
Tajikistan is the only side set to make its debut at the tournament, while Indonesia and Malaysia are returning having not qualified since 2007.
Hong Kong are also back after a long absence with their most recent appearance dating back to 1968.
| Country | Apps | Titles (Last) |
|---|---|---|
| Qatar | 11 | 1 (2019) |
| Japan | 10 | 4 (2011) |
| Syria | 10 | — |
| South Korea | 15 | 2 (1960) |
| Australia | 5 | 1 (2015) |
| Iran | 15 | 3 (1976) |
| Saudi Arabia | 11 | 3 (1996) |
| United Arab Emirates | 11 | — |
| China | 13 | — |
| Iraq | 10 | 1 (2007) |
| Oman | 5 | — |
| Vietnam | 5 | — |
| Lebanon | 3 | — |
| Palestine | 3 | — |
| Uzbekistan | 8 | — |
| Thailand | 8 | — |
| India | 5 | — |
| Hong Kong | 4 | — |
| Tajikistan | 0 | — |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2 | — |
| Bahrain | 7 | — |
| Malaysia | 4 | — |
| Jordan | 5 | — |
| Indonesia | 5 | — |
AFC Asian Cup winners by year
Despite losing the 2019 final to Qatar, Japan remaining the most successful team in the competiiton’s history having lifted the trophy four times.
Saudi Arabia and Iran are next best having won the tournament three times each.
Israel notably won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup prior to their expulsion from the confederation in 1974 and are now part of UEFA.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | South Korea | Israel |
| 1960 | South Korea | Israel |
| 1964 | Israel | India |
| 1968 | Iran | Burma |
| 1972 | Iran | South Korea |
| 1976 | Iran | Kuwait |
| 1980 | Kuwait | South Korea |
| 1984 | Saudi Arabia | China |
| 1988 | Saudi Arabia | South Korea |
| 1992 | Japan | Saudi Arabia |
| 1996 | Saudi Arabia | United Arab Emirates |
| 2000 | Japan | Saudi Arabia |
| 2004 | Japan | China |
| 2007 | Iraq | Saudi Arabia |
| 2011 | Japan | Australia |
| 2015 | Australia | South Korea |
| 2019 | Qatar | Japan |
This news is republished from another source. You can check the original article here