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2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification was the qualification process organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to determine the participating teams for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the 18th edition of the international men's football championship of Asia. Since 2019, the Asian Cup final tournament is contested by 24 teams, having been expanded from the 16-team format that was used from 2004 to 2015.[1][2]

2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualification
Tournament details
Dates6 June 2019 – 14 June 2022
Teams46[note 1] (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played208
Goals scored665 (3.2 per match)
Attendance2,080,030 (10,000 per match)
Top scorer(s)United Arab Emirates Ali Mabkhout (11 goals)
← 2019
2027 →

The qualification process involved four rounds, where the first two rounds doubled as the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification for Asian teams. Only the first round acted as qualifiers for the cancelled 2020 AFC Solidarity Cup as the six teams which were eliminated from the first round of the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup joint qualifiers. The two teams that were eliminated from the play-off round of the Asian Cup qualifiers were among the four teams that would have qualified for the Solidarity Cup.[3]

Format

The qualification structure was as follows:[4]

  • First round: 12 teams (ranked 35–46) played home-and-away over two legs. The six winners advanced to the second round.
  • Second round: 40 teams (ranked 1–34 and six first round winners) were divided into eight groups of five teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches.
    • The eight group winners and the five best group runners-up qualified for the AFC Asian Cup (and advance to the third round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers).
    • The next 22 highest ranked teams (the remaining three group runners-up, the eight third-placed teams, the eight fourth-placed teams and the three best groups fifth-placed teams) advanced directly to the third round of Asian Cup qualification.
    • The remaining 4 teams entered the play-off round to contest the remaining two spots in the third round of Asian Cup qualification.
  • Play-off round: There was one round of home-and-away two-legged play-off matches that determined the final two qualifiers for the third round.
  • Third round: The 24 teams were divided into six groups of four to play single round-robin matches in six centralised venues,[5] and they competed for the remaining slots of the Asian Cup.

Entrants

The 46 FIFA-affiliated nations from the AFC entered qualification, with the April 2019 FIFA Men's World Rankings used to determine which nations would compete in the first round and which nations would receive a bye through to the second round. For seeding in the second round and third round draws, the most recent FIFA Rankings prior to those draws have been expected to be used.

Due to the joint format of the World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, Qatar (as the host nation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup) also entered the second round of Asian Cup qualifiers.[6]

The following restrictions were applied:

  • Northern Mariana Islands, which was not a FIFA member, could not enter.
  • Timor-Leste was barred from participating in the Asian Cup qualification after being found to have fielded a total of twelve ineligible players in 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification matches, among other competitions.[7] However, as FIFA did not ban Timor-Leste from the World Cup qualifiers, the country was allowed to enter the competition, but was ineligible to qualify for the Asian Cup.
From the April 2019 FIFA World Rankings[8]
Bye to the second round
(Ranked 1st to 34th)		Competing in first round
(Ranked 35th to 46th)
  1.  Iran (21)
  2.  Japan (26)
  3.  South Korea (37)
  4.  Australia (41)
  5.  Qatar (55)
  6.  United Arab Emirates (67)
  7.  Saudi Arabia (72)
  8.  China (74)
  9.  Iraq (76)
  10.  Syria (83)
  11.  Uzbekistan (85)
  12.  Lebanon (86)
  13.  Oman (86)
  14.  Kyrgyzstan (95)
  15.  Jordan (97)
  16.  Vietnam (98)
  17.  Palestine (99)
  18.  India (101)
  19.  Bahrain (111)
  20.  Thailand (114)
  21.  Tajikistan (120)
  22.  North Korea (121)
  23.  Philippines (124)
  24.  Chinese Taipei (125)
  25.  Turkmenistan (136)
  26.  Myanmar (140)
  27.  Hong Kong (141)
  28.  Yemen (146)
  29.  Afghanistan (149)
  30.  Maldives (151)
  31.  Kuwait (156)
  32.  Indonesia (159)
  33.  Singapore (160)
  34.    Nepal (161)
  1.  Malaysia (168)
  2.  Cambodia (173)
  3.  Macau (183)
  4.  Laos (184)
  5.  Bhutan (186)
  6.  Mongolia (187)
  7.  Bangladesh (188)
  8.  Guam (193)
  9.  Brunei (194)
  10.  East Timor (195)
  11.  Pakistan (200)
  12.  Sri Lanka (202)

Schedule

The schedule of the competition was as follows in the tables below.[9][10][11][12]

On 9 March 2020, FIFA and AFC announced that the second round matches on matchdays 7–10 due to take place in March and June 2020 were postponed to later dates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the new dates to be confirmed. However, subject to approval by FIFA and AFC, and agreement of both member associations, the matches could be played as scheduled provided that the safety of all individuals involved met the required standards.[13] On 5 June, AFC confirmed that matchdays 7 and 8 were scheduled to take place on 8 and 13 October respectively, while matchdays 9 and 10 were also scheduled to kick off on 12 and 17 November.[14] On 12 August, AFC announced that the upcoming qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup, originally scheduled to take place during the international match windows in October and November 2020, were rescheduled to 2021.[15][16]

On 11 November 2020, the AFC Competitions Committee agreed at its meeting that all remaining second round matches were to be completed by 15 June 2021, with matchdays 7 and 8 in March, and matchdays 9 and 10 in June.[17] However, on the same day, FIFA, along with the Bangladeshi and Qatari member associations, gave approval to the only second round match originally scheduled for 2020, Qatar v Bangladesh, which was played on 4 December.[18]

On 19 February 2021, FIFA and AFC postponed the majority of the upcoming matches to June.[19] On 20 October, the AFC reported that the third round would begin in June 2022, with the final round draw to be held earlier in February.[20][21]

RoundMatchdayDate(s)
First roundFirst leg6 June 2019
Second leg11 June 2019
Second roundMatchday 15 September 2019
Matchday 210 September 2019
Matchday 310 October 2019
Matchday 415 October 2019
Matchday 514 November 2019
Matchday 619 November 2019
Matchday 725 March, 28 May and 3 June 2021
Matchday 84 December 2020, 30 March and 7 and 9 June 2021
Matchday 930 March, 30 May and 11 June 2021
Matchday 1013 and 15 June 2021
RoundMatchdayDate
Play-off roundFirst leg7 and 9 October 2021
Second leg11 and 12 October 2021
Third roundMatchday 18 June 2022
Matchday 211 June 2022
Matchday 314 June 2022
Original qualifying schedule
StageMatchdayDate
Second roundMatchday 726 March 2020, later 8 October
Matchday 831 March 2020, later 13 October
Matchday 94 June 2020, later 12 November, then 7 June 2021
Matchday 109 June 2020, later 17 November
Play-off roundRound 1 first leg3 September 2020
Round 1 second leg8 September 2020
Round 2 first leg13 October 2020
Round 2 second leg17 November 2020
Third roundMatchday 130 March 2021, later 11 November
Matchday 28 June 2021, later 16 November
Matchday 37 September 2021, later 1 February 2022
Matchday 412 October 2021, later 24 March 2022
Matchday 516 November 2021, later 29 March 2022
Matchday 629 March 2022, later 14 June

First round

The draw for the first round took place on 17 April 2019 at 11:00 MST (UTC+8), at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[22]

The six teams eliminated from this round progressed to the cancelled 2020 AFC Solidarity Cup.

Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Mongolia  3–2  Brunei2–01–2
Macau  1–3  Sri Lanka1–00–3[note 2]
Laos  0–1  Bangladesh0–10–0
Malaysia  12–2  East Timor7–15–1
Cambodia  4–1  Pakistan2–02–1
Bhutan  1–5  Guam1–00–5

Second round

The draw for the second round was held on 17 July 2019 at 17:00 MST (UTC+8), at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[25]

Groups

Group A

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Syria8701227+1521World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup—2–11–02–14–0
2  China[a]8611303+27193–1—2–05–07–0
3  Philippines83231211+111Asian Cup qualifying third round2–50–0—1–13–0
4  Maldives8215720−1370–40–51–2—3–1
5  Guam8008232−300Asian Cup qualifying play-off round0–30–71–40–1—
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Notes:

Group B

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Australia8800282+2624World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup—3–01–05–05–1
2  Kuwait8422197+1214Asian Cup qualifying third round0–3—0–07–09–0
3  Jordan8422133+10140–10–0—3–05–0
4    Nepal8206422−1860–30–10–3—2–0
5  Chinese Taipei8008434−300Asian Cup qualifying play-off round1–71–21–20–2—
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Group C

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Iran8602344+3018World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup—1–03–03–114–0
2  Iraq8521144+10172–1—0–02–04–1
3  Bahrain8431154+1115Asian Cup qualifying third round1–01–1—4–08–0
4  Hong Kong8125413−950–20–10–0—2–0
5  Cambodia8017244−421Asian Cup qualifying play-off round0–100–40–11–1—
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Group D

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Saudi Arabia8620224+1820World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup—3–05–03–03–0
2  Uzbekistan8503189+915Asian Cup qualifying third round2–3—2–05–05–0
3  Palestine831410100100–02–0—4–03–0
4  Singapore8215722−1570–31–32–1—2–2
5  Yemen8125618−1252–20–11–01–2—
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Group E

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Qatar[a]8710181+1722Asian Cup—2–10–06–05–0
2  Oman8602166+1018World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup0–1—1–03–04–1
3  India814367−17Asian Cup qualifying third round0–11–2—1–11–1
4  Afghanistan8134515−1060–11–21–1—1–0
5  Bangladesh8026319−1620–20–30–21–1—
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Notes:

Group F

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Japan8800462+4424World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup—4–15–16–010–0
2  Tajikistan84131412+213Asian Cup qualifying third round0–3—1–03–04–0
3  Kyrgyzstan83141912+7100–21–1—0–17–0
4  Mongolia8206327−2460–140–11–2—1–0
5  Myanmar8206635−2960–24–31–81–0—
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Group G

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  United Arab Emirates8602237+1618World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup—3–24–03–15–0
2  Vietnam8521135+8171–0—1–00–04–0
3  Malaysia84041012−212Asian Cup qualifying third round1–21–2—2–12–0
4  Thailand823399092–10–00–1—2–2
5  Indonesia8017527−221Asian Cup qualifying play-off round0–51–32–30–3—
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Group H

North Korea withdrew from the qualifying round due to safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore the results of their matches were excluded from the group standings.[26][27]

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  South Korea6510221+2116World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup—2–15–08–0Canc.
2  Lebanon6312118+3100–0—2–13–20–0
3  Turkmenistan6303811−39Asian Cup qualifying third round0–23–2—2–03–1
4  Sri Lanka6006223−2100–50–30–2—0–1
5  North Korea[a]00000000Withdrew0–02–0Canc.Canc.—
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Notes:

Ranking of runner-up teams

Group H contained only four teams compared to five teams in all other groups after North Korea withdrew from the competition. Therefore, the results against the fifth-placed team were not counted when determining the ranking of the runner-up teams.[30]

PosGrpTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1A  China[a]6411163+1313World Cup qualifying third round and Asian Cup
2E  Oman640295+412
3C  Iraq632163+311
4G  Vietnam632164+211
5H  Lebanon6312118+310
6F  Tajikistan631278−110Asian Cup qualifying third round
7D  Uzbekistan6303129+39
8B  Kuwait622286+28
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:

Ranking of fifth-placed teams

PosGrpTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1F  Myanmar8206635−296Asian Cup qualifying third round
2D  Yemen8125618−125
3E  Bangladesh8026319−162
4G  Indonesia8017527−221Asian Cup qualifying play-off round
5C  Cambodia8017244−421
6B  Chinese Taipei8008434−300
7A  Guam8008232−300
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Play-off round

Four teams competed in a single round for two slots to the third round. It was planned to have a total of eight slots for the third round be available from this round (four from round 1, four from round 2) and the four teams that were to be eliminated from this stage would have progressed to the later cancelled 2020 AFC Solidarity Cup.

Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Guam  1–3  Cambodia0–11–2
Indonesia  5–1  Chinese Taipei2–13–0

Third round

A total of 24 teams competed in the third round of AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Since the then-2023 hosts China advanced to the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying third round, the automatic slot for the hosts was no longer necessary, and a total of 11 slots for the Asian Cup were available from this round.

Groups

Group A

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Jordan330060+692023 AFC Asian Cup——3–02–0
2  Indonesia320192+760–1——7–0
3  Kuwait (H)310256−13—1–2——
4    Nepal3003113−120——1–4—
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group B

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Palestine3300100+1092023 AFC Asian Cup—4–01–0—
2  Philippines311114−34———0–0
3  Mongolia (H)31022203—0–1——
4  Yemen301207−710–5—0–2—
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group C

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Uzbekistan (H)330090+992023 AFC Asian Cup—2–0—3–0
2  Thailand320152+36——3–0—
3  Maldives310217−630–4——1–0
4  Sri Lanka300306−60—0–2——
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group D

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  India (H)330081+792023 AFC Asian Cup—4–0—2–0
2  Hong Kong32015506——2–1—
3  Afghanistan301246−211–2——2–2
4  Cambodia301227−51—0–3——
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group E

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Bahrain330051+492023 AFC Asian Cup——1–02–0
2  Malaysia (H)320184+461–2——4–1
3  Turkmenistan310235−23—1–3——
4  Bangladesh300328−60——1–2—
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Group F

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1  Tajikistan321050+572023 AFC Asian Cup———4–0
2  Kyrgyzstan (H)321041+370–0—2–1—
3  Singapore310275+230–1———
4  Myanmar3003212−100—0–22–6—
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts

Ranking of runner-up teams

PosGrpTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1F  Kyrgyzstan321041+372023 AFC Asian Cup
2A  Indonesia320192+76
3E  Malaysia320184+46
4C  Thailand320152+36
5D  Hong Kong32015506
6B  Philippines311114−34
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Qualified teams

  Qualified for Asian Cup
  Failed to qualify
  Disqualified or withdrew
  Not an AFC member

The following 24 teams qualified for the final tournament in Qatar.

TeamMethod of
qualification		Date of
qualification		Finals
appearances		Last
appearance		Previous best
performance
 ChinaFormer hosts and Second round group A runners-up4 June 2019[a]13th2019Runners-up (1984, 2004)
 JapanSecond round group F winners28 May 202110th2019Winners (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011)
 SyriaSecond round group A winners7 June 20217th2019Group stage (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2011, 2019)
 QatarSecond round Group E winners and hosts7 June 202111th2019Winners (2019)
 South KoreaSecond round group H winners9 June 202115th2019Winners (1956, 1960)
 AustraliaSecond round group B winners11 June 20215th2019Winners (2015)
 IranSecond round group C winners15 June 202115th2019Winners (1968, 1972, 1976)
 Saudi ArabiaSecond round group D winners15 June 202111th2019Winners (1984, 1988, 1996)
 United Arab EmiratesSecond round group G winners15 June 202111th2019Runners-up (1996)
 IraqSecond round group C runners-up15 June 202110th2019Winners (2007)
 OmanSecond round group E runners-up15 June 20215th2019Round of 16 (2019)
 VietnamSecond round group G runners-up15 June 20215th2019Fourth place (1956,[b] 1960[b])
 LebanonSecond round group H runners-up15 June 20213rd2019Group stage (2000, 2019)
 PalestineThird round group B winners14 June 20223rd2019Group stage (2015, 2019)
 UzbekistanThird round group C winners14 June 20228th2019Fourth place (2011)
 ThailandThird round group C runners-up14 June 20228th2019Third place (1972)
 IndiaThird round group D winners14 June 20225th2019Runners-up (1964)
 Hong KongThird round group D runners-up14 June 20224th1968Third place (1956)
 TajikistanThird round group F winners14 June 20221stDebutNone
 KyrgyzstanThird round group F runners-up14 June 20222nd2019Round of 16 (2019)
 BahrainThird round group E winners14 June 20227th2019Fourth place (2004)
 MalaysiaThird round group E runners-up14 June 20224th2007Group stage (1976, 1980, 2007)
 JordanThird round group A winners14 June 20225th2019Quarter-finals (2004, 2011)
 IndonesiaThird round group A runners-up14 June 20225th2007Group stage (1996, 2000, 2004, 2007)
Notes

Top goalscorers

There were 665 goals scored in 208 matches, for an average of 3.2 goals per match.

11 goals

10 goals

9 goals

8 goals

7 goals

6 goals

Below is full goalscorers lists for all rounds:

See also

Notes

References

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