ASIAN CUP
Asian Cup 2023: full schedule, fixtures, teams, kick-off times
The 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup kicks off in Doha (Qatar) on 12 January with the host nation looking to defend their title.
24 nations will compete in the 2023 Asian Cup set to be staged in Qatar with the original tournament having to be pulled from China following Covid-19 complications.
The action gets underway in Doha as Qatar face Lebanon in the opener with nine of the 2022 World Cup stadiums to be used for the competition which commences on 12 January and winds up with the final on 10 February with the winner set to be crowned at Lusail’s impressive 88,000 capacity stadium.
At the outset of the competition, Japan, Korea Republic, Iran and Saudi Arabia are the pre-tournament favourites with current holders Qatar struggling as they enter a phase of reconstruction under new coach Bartolomé “Tintín” Márquez following a poor showing at the World Cup.
AFC Asian Cup 2023: groups
Group A: Qatar, China, Lebanon, Tajikistan
Group B: Australia, Syria, India, Uzbekistan
Group C: Iran, UAE, Hong Kong, Palestine
Group D: Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam
Group E: South Korea, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain
Group F: Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Oman
The top two sides in each of the six groups will advance to the Round of 16 and will be joined by four of the best placed third placed teams. The competition then follows a direct knock-out format through to the 10 February final where the champion of Asia will be crowned at Lusail Stadium, the same vene where Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup on 18 December 2022 following Argentina’s dramatic win over France.
AFC Asian Cup: match calender (all times ET)
Group A
January 12, 11am : Qatar vs Lebanon — Lusail Stadium, Lusail
January 13, 9:30am : China vs Tajikistan — Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
January 17, 6:30am: Lebanon vs China — Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
January 17, 9:30am: Tajikistan vs Qatar — Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
January 22, 10am: Qatar vs China — Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 22, 10am: Tajikistan vs Lebanon — Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group B
January 13, 6:30am: Australia vs India — Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 13, 12:30pm: Uzbekistan vs Syria — Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 18, 6:30am: Syria vs Australia — Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 18, 9:30am: India vs Uzbekistan — Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 23, 6:30am: Australia vs Uzbekistan — Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
January 23, 6:30am: Syria vs India — Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
Group C
January 14, 9:30am: UAE vs Hong Kong — Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 14, 12:30pm: Iran vs Palestine — Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 18, 12:30pm: Palestine vs UAE — Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
January 19, 12:30pm: Hong Kong vs Iran — Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 23, 10am: Iran vs UAE — Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 23, 10am: Hong Kong vs Palestine — Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
Group D
January 14, 6:30am: Japan vs Vietnam — Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
January 15, 9:30am: Indonesia vs Iraq — Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 19, 6:30am: Iraq vs Japan — Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 19, 9:30am: Vietnam vs Indonesia — Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
January 24, 6:30am: Japan vs Indonesia — Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
January 24, 6:30am: Iraq vs Vietnam — Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group E
January 15, 6:30am: South Korea vs Bahrain — Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 15, 12:30pm: Malaysia vs Jordan — Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
January 20, 6:30am: Jordan vs South Korea — Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
January 20, 9:30am: Bahrain vs Malaysia — Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 25, 6:30am: South Korea vs Malaysia — Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah
January 25, 6:30am: Jordan vs Bahrain — Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
Group F
January 16, 9:30am: Thailand vs Kyrgyzstan — Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
January 16, 12:30pm: Saudi Arabia vs Oman — Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 21, 9:30am: Oman vs Thailand — Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
January 21, 12:30pm: Kyrgyzstan vs Saudi Arabia — Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 25, 10am: Saudi Arabia vs Thailand — Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan
January 25, 10am: Kyrgyzstan vs Oman — Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
Round of 16
Match 37: January 28, 6:30am ET — Winner B vs 3rd place A/C/D — Al Rayyan
Match 38: January 28, 11am ET — Runner-up A vs Runner-up C — Al Rayyan
Match 39: January 29, 6:30am ET — Winner D vs 3rd place B/E/F — Al Rayyan
Match 40: January 29, 11am ET — Winner A vs 3rd place C/D/E — Al Khor
Match 41: January 30, 6:30am ET — Runner-up B vs Runner-up F — Al Wakrah
Match 42: January 30, 11am ET — Winner F vs Runner-up E — Al Rayyan
Match 43: January 31, 6:30am ET — Winner E vs Runner-up D — Doha
Match 44: January 31, 11am ET — Winner C vs 3rd place A/B/F — Doha
Quarterfinal
Match 45: February 2, 6:30am ET — Winner of 38 vs Winner of 39 — Al Rayyan
Match 46: February 2, 10:30am ET — Winner of 37 vs Winner of 42 — Al Wakrah
Match 47: February 3, 6:30am ET — Winner of 44 vs Winner of 43 — Al Rayyan
Match 48: February 3, 10:30am ET — Winner of 40 vs Winner of 41 — Al Khor
Semifinal
Match 49: February 6, 10am ET — Winner of 45 vs Winner of 46 — Al Rayyan
Match 50: February 7, 10am ET — Winner of 47 vs Winner of 48 — Doha
Final
February 10, 10am ET — Winner of 49 vs Winner of 50 — Lusail