The AFC Asian Cup is the primary association football competition for the senior men’s national teams of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It is a quadrennial tournament that determines the continental champion of Asia. The first tournament was held in 1956 in Hong Kong, and it is the second-oldest continental football championship in the world after the Copa América.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- History of AFC Asian Cup
- Format of the AFC Asian Cup
- Winners of the AFC Asian Cup
- Records and Statistics of AFC Asian Cup
- Hosting of AFC Asian Cup
- AFC Asian Cup 2023
- AFC U-23 Asian Cup
- AFC U-20 Asian Cup
- AFC U-17 Asian Cup
- AFC U-16 Asian Cup
- AFC Challenge Cup
- AFC Futsal Championship
- AFC Beach Soccer Championship
- AFC Women’s Asian Cup
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Conclusion
History of AFC Asian Cup
The idea of organizing an Asian football championship was first discussed in 1954, and the first tournament was held in 1956 in Hong Kong. It was contested by just four teams, with South Korea winning the inaugural edition. Since then, the tournament has grown in size and stature, with the number of teams participating increasing over the years.
In 1960, the tournament was renamed the Asian Nations Cup, and it continued to be held every four years. However, due to political tensions in the region, the tournament was not held in 1964 or 1972. It was not until 1984 that the competition resumed, and it has been held regularly since then.
Format of the AFC Asian Cup
The format of the AFC Asian Cup has changed over the years. Initially, the tournament was played in a round-robin format, with the top team being crowned champions. From 1968 to 2000, the tournament was played in a knockout format, with the winners of each game progressing to the next round.
Since 2004, the tournament has been played in a group stage format, followed by knockout rounds. The teams are divided into four groups of four, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the knockout rounds. The winners of the quarter-finals progress to the semi-finals, and the winners of the semi-finals play in the final to determine the champions.
Winners of the AFC Asian Cup
Japan is the most successful team in the history of the AFC Asian Cup, having won the tournament a record four times. Saudi Arabia has won the tournament three times, while Iran, South Korea, and Kuwait have each won the tournament once.
Records and Statistics of AFC Asian Cup
The AFC Asian Cup has witnessed many records and statistics since its inception. The highest-scoring game in the history of the tournament was a 8-1 victory by Iran over Guam in 2000. The most successful player in the history of the tournament is Khodadad Azizi of Iran, who scored 14 goals in the competition.
Hosting of AFC Asian Cup
The AFC Asian Cup has been hosted by various countries across Asia. Iran, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates have each hosted the tournament twice, while China, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Thailand have each hosted the tournament once.
AFC Asian Cup 2023
The next edition of the AFC Asian Cup is scheduled to be held in Qatar from January 4 to February 1, 2023. It will be the second time that Qatar will be hosting the tournament, having previously hosted it in 1988. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held in June and July of 2023.
AFC U-20 Asian Cup
he AFC U-20 Asian Cup is a biennial international youth football championship organized by the AFC for men’s under-20 national teams of Asia.