2023 AFC Asian Cup

Asian football tournament.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup was hosted by Qatar from January 12 to February 10, 2024, marking the 18th edition of the tournament. This competition featured 24 teams, following the expansion that began in 2019. Originally scheduled for June to July 2023, the tournament was postponed due to high summer temperatures and Qatar's participation in the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Qatar was awarded hosting rights on October 17, 2022, after China withdrew as the original host due to COVID-19 concerns. The tournament was significant as it was the only Asian Cup held in an odd-numbered year since 2007 and the first time a FIFA World Cup host nation hosted the Asian Cup.

The opening match took place at Lusail Stadium, with Qatar defending their title against Lebanon. The tournament featured matches across nine venues in five host cities, including Al Khor, Al Rayyan, and Doha. The event aimed to showcase Qatar's advancements in sports infrastructure following their successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

As defending champions, Qatar successfully retained their title by defeating Jordan 3-1 in the final. Akram Afif emerged as the tournament's top scorer with eight goals and was also named the best player. Meshaal Barsham received recognition as the best goalkeeper.

The tournament saw a total of 51 matches played, with 132 goals scored at an average of 2.59 per match and an overall attendance of over 1.5 million spectators. This edition highlighted the growing competitiveness of Asian football, with teams like Tajikistan making their debut while Hong Kong returned after a lengthy absence.

The next AFC Asian Cup is set to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2027, continuing the tradition of hosting prestigious football events in the Middle East and promoting regional cooperation through sports.