The 2023 AFC Asian Cup kicks off in Qatar on January 12 with the hosts aiming to retain the title they won in the United Arab Emirates in 2019.
The tournament will feature the majority of the same stadiums as used in Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but they will be looking to perform better on the continental stage after bowing out at the group stages of that FIFA tournament.
Traditional AFC Asian Cup superpower Japan are expected to be a major force in 2024, alongside former winners South Korea and Australia. With stars such as Son Heung-min and Wataru Endo on show, there is sure to be plenty of interest.
The Sporting News has the full details on the 2023 AFC Asian Cup including the format of the tournament, the fixture schedule, group standings, and all the important dates until the final in February.
MORE: Predicting Australia’s chances of winning the 2023 Asian Cup
2023 AFC Asian Cup format
The 2023 AFC Asian Cup features 24 teams for the second successive tournament after opting for an expansion from 16 ahead of the 2019 edition.
The teams are split into six groups of four (A-F) with the top two teams from each mini league automatically qualifying for the Round of 16 knockout stage.
As that process only confirms 12 spots, the remaining four knockout places will be given to the best third-placed teams, as decided by the below tiebreaker criteria.
- Total points over three group games
- Group-stage goal difference
- Group-stage goals scored
- Lowest disciplinary points total
- Drawing of lots
From the Round of 16 onwards, all matches are single-elimination knockout, with 30 minutes of extra time and penalties a possibility if scores are tied after 90 minutes of regulation.
The quarterfinals will be followed by two semifinals and a final, but there will be no third-place playoff.
2023 AFC Asian Cup fixtures, schedule, results, standings
The group stages were confirmed in May 2023 with hosts Qatar already pre-selected in Group A. The path through the knockout stages to the final is already confirmed and detailed below.
Results and table will be updated after each matchday from January 12.
Group A
| Team |
GP |
Win |
Draw |
Loss |
GS |
GA |
Points |
| Qatar |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| China |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Tajikistan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Lebanon |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Date |
Match |
| Jan. 12 |
Qatar vs. Lebanon |
| Jan. 13 |
China vs. Tajikistan |
| Jan. 17 |
Lebanon vs. China |
| Jan. 17 |
Tajikistan vs. Qatar |
| Jan. 22 |
Qatar vs. China |
| Jan. 22 |
Tajikistan vs. Lebanon |
Group B
| Team |
GP |
Win |
Draw |
Loss |
GS |
GA |
Points |
| Australia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Uzbekistan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| India |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Syria |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Date |
Match |
| Jan. 13 |
Australia vs. India |
| Jan. 13 |
Uzbekistan vs. Syria |
| Jan. 18 |
Syria vs. Australia |
| Jan. 18 |
India vs. Uzbekistan |
| Jan. 23 |
Australia vs. Uzbekistan |
| Jan. 23 |
Syria vs. India |
Group C
| Team |
GP |
Win |
Draw |
Loss |
GS |
GA |
Points |
| Iran |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| UAE |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Hong Kong |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Palestine |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Date |
Match |
| Jan. 14 |
UAE vs. Hong Kong |
| Jan. 14 |
Iran vs. Palestine |
| Jan. 18 |
Palestine vs. UAE |
| Jan. 19 |
Hong Kong vs. Iran |
| Jan. 23 |
Iran vs. UAE |
| Jan. 23 |
Hong Kong vs. Palestine |
Group D
| Team |
GP |
Win |
Draw |
Loss |
GS |
GA |
Points |
| Japan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Indonesia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Iraq |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Vietnam |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Date |
Match |
| Jan.14 |
Japan vs. Vietnam |
| Jan. 15 |
Indonesia vs. Iraq |
| Jan. 19 |
Iraq vs. Japan |
| Jan. 19 |
Vietnam vs. Indonesia |
| Jan. 24 |
Japan vs. Indonesia |
| Jan 24 |
Iraq vs. Vietnam |
Group E
| Team |
GP |
Win |
Draw |
Loss |
GS |
GA |
Points |
| South Korea |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Malaysia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Jordan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Bahrain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Date |
Match |
| Jan 15 |
South Korea vs. Bahrain |
| Jan 15 |
Malaysia vs. Jordan |
| Jan 20 |
Jordan vs. South Korea |
| Jan 20 |
Bahrain vs. Malaysia |
| Jan 25 |
South Korea vs. Malaysia |
| Jan 25 |
Jordan vs. Bahrain |
Group F
| Team |
GP |
Win |
Draw |
Loss |
GS |
GA |
Points |
| Saudi Arabia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Thailand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Kyrgyzstan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Oman |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Date |
Match |
| Jan 16 |
Thailand vs. Kyrgyzstan |
| Jan 16 |
Saudi Arabia vs. Oman |
| Jan 21 |
Oman vs. Thailand |
| Jan 21 |
Kyrgyzstan vs. Saudi Arabia |
| Jan 25 |
Saudi Arabia vs. Thailand |
| Jan 25 |
Kyrgyzstan vs. Oman |
MORE: Everything you need to know about the Asian Cup
2023 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage schedule
Round of 16
| Match No. |
Date |
Fixture |
| 37 |
Jan. 28 |
1st Group B vs. 3rd Group A/C/D |
| 38 |
Jan. 28 |
2nd Group A vs. 2nd Group C |
| 39 |
Jan. 29 |
1st Group D vs. 3rd Group B/E/F |
| 40 |
Jan. 29 |
1 Group A vs. 3rd Group C/D/E |
| 41 |
Jan. 30 |
2nd Group B vs. 2nd Group F |
| 42 |
Jan. 30 |
1st Group F vs. 2nd Group E |
| 43 |
Jan. 31 |
1st Group E vs. 2nd Group D |
| 44 |
Jan. 31 |
1st Group C vs. 3rd Group A/B/F |
Quarterfinal
| Match No. |
Date |
Fixture |
| QF. 1 |
Feb. 2 |
Winner of Match 38 vs. Winner of Match 39 |
| QF. 2 |
Feb. 2 |
Winner of Match 37 vs. Winner of Match 42 |
| QF. 3 |
Feb. 3 |
Winner of Match 44 vs. Winner of Match 43 |
| QF. 4 |
Feb. 3 |
Winner of Match 40 vs. Winner of Match 41 |
Semifinal
| Date |
Fixture |
| Feb 6. |
Winner of QF 1 vs. Winner of QF 2 |
| Feb 7. |
Winner of QF 3 vs. Winner of QF 4 |
Final
| Date |
Fixture |
| Feb 10. |
Winner of Semifinal 1 vs. Winner of Semifinal 2 |
Source
