View source for AFC Asian Cup

{{Short description|Association football tournament}}
{{Redirect|Asian Cup|other uses|Asia Cup (disambiguation)}}
{{Distinguish|AFC Champions League Two{{!}}AFC Cup}}
{{Infobox football tournament
| name                 = AFC Asian Cup
| image                = AFC Asian Cup.png
| imagesize            = 205px
| organiser            = [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]]
| founded              = {{Start date and age|1956}}
| region               = [[Asia]] and [[Australia]]
| number of teams      = 24 (finals)<br />47 (eligible to enter qualification)
| qualifier for        = 
| related comps        = 
| domestic cup         = 
| current champions    = {{fb|QTR}} (2nd title)
| most successful team = {{fb|JPN}} (4 titles)
| website              = {{URL|https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup.html|the-afc.com}}
| current              = [[2027 AFC Asian Cup]]
}}
{{Season sidebar
| image   = 
| caption = [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]], the current champions
| title   = Football Tournament
| list    = 
* [[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]]
* [[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]]
* [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]
* [[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]]
* [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]]
* [[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]]
* [[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]]
* [[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]]
* [[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]]
* [[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]]
* [[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]]
* [[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]]
* [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]
* [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]]
* [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]
* [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]]
* [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]]
* [[2023 AFC Asian Cup|2023]]
* ''[[2027 AFC Asian Cup|2027]]''
* ''[[2031 AFC Asian Cup|2031]]''
}}

The '''AFC Asian Cup''' is the primary [[association football]] competition contested by the senior [[list of men's national association football teams|men's national teams]] of the members of the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC), determining the [[continental football championships|continental champion]] of [[Asia]]. It is the second-oldest continental football championship in the world after [[Copa América]]. The winning team becomes the champions of Asia and, until 2015, qualified for the [[FIFA Confederations Cup]].<ref name="revamp">{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/fifa-council-votes-for-the-introduction-of-a-revamped-fifa-club-world-cup |title=FIFA Council votes for the introduction of a revamped FIFA Club World Cup |website=FIFA.com |date=15 March 2019 |access-date=15 March 2019 |archive-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716174909/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/news/fifa-council-votes-for-the-introduction-of-a-revamped-fifa-club-world-cup |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Asian Cup was held once every four years from the [[1956 AFC Asian Cup]] in Hong Kong until the [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004 tournament]] in China. That year, since the [[Summer Olympic Games]] and the [[UEFA European Football Championship|European Football Championship]] were also scheduled in the same year as the Asian Cup, the AFC decided to move their championship to a less crowded cycle. After 2004, the tournament was next held in [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]], when it was co-hosted by four countries in [[Southeast Asia]]: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Thereafter, it has again been held every four years.

The Asian Cup has generally been dominated by a small number of top  teams. Prominently successful teams include [[Japan national football team|Japan]] (four times), [[Iran national football team|Iran]], [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] (three times each), [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] and [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]] (twice each). The other teams which have achieved success are [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] ([[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]]), [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] ([[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]]) and [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] ([[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]]). [[Israel national football team|Israel]] won in [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]] but was later expelled and has since joined [[UEFA]].

Australia joined the Asian confederation in 2007 and hosted the Asian Cup finals in 2015, winning the competition in the final against South Korea. From the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019 tournament]] forward, the number of teams was expanded from 16 teams to 24 teams, with the qualifying process doubling as part of the [[FIFA World Cup qualification]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-departments/competitions-division/27547-revamp-of-afc-competitions.html |title=Revamp of AFC competitions |publisher=The-afc.com |date=25 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203183006/http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-departments/competitions-division/27547-revamp-of-afc-competitions.html |archive-date=3 February 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/afc-asian-cup-changes-set-for-2019/98e8x2nwsrjl1irq05l2dizzo |title=AFC Asian Cup changes set for 2019 |publisher=Afcasiancup.com |date=26 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130081835/http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/afc-asian-cup-changes-set-for-2019/98e8x2nwsrjl1irq05l2dizzo |archive-date=30 January 2014 }}</ref>

==History==
===Beginning===
A pan-Asian competition was first proposed after the end of [[World War II]], but it was not implemented until the 1950s. Two years after the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC) came into being in 1954, the first ever AFC Asian Cup was staged in [[British Hong Kong]] with seven of the twelve founding members taking part, making the tournament the second oldest continental competition in the world. The qualifying process involved the hosts plus the winners of the various zones (Central, Eastern and Western). It was only a four-team tournament, a format that also existed for 1960 and 1964. Each sub-confederation already hosts their own biennial championship, each with varying degrees of interest.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

[[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] demonstrated its superiority in the early years of the competition as the country won the championship in both [[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]] and [[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]]; this remains as South Korea's best achievements in the tournament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/moments-and-milestones-the-1960-afc-asian-cup-22057|title=The AFC|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-date=2021-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028084626/https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/moments-and-milestones-the-1960-afc-asian-cup-22057|url-status=live}}</ref>

===West Asian domination (1964–1988)===
After Hong Kong and South Korea hosted the two first editions, [[Israel]] was chosen as host of the [[1964 AFC Asian Cup]]. Using the same format of the two previous editions, this tournament only had four teams and played in one single group to determine the champions. Israel eventually topped the tournament ahead of [[India men's national football team|India]] with three wins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/moments-and-milestones-the-1964-afc-asian-cup-22104|title=The AFC|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-date=2021-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728090232/https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/moments-and-milestones-the-1964-afc-asian-cup-22104|url-status=live}}</ref> The format was updated to five teams in 1968 before it was expanded to six teams in 1972 and 1976.

The tournament became the preserve of [[Iran national football team|Iran]] who won three consecutive tournaments in [[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]], [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]] and [[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]], with Iran hosting the former and the latter. Iran remains as the only national team in Asia to have won three consecutive Asian Cups. The 1972 final was notable as it was the first Asian Cup to use the group stage-knockout phase format, which was followed in the subsequent tournaments with some alternation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2011/01/07/2293901/asian-cup-know-your-history-part-one-1956-1988 |title=Asian Cup: Know Your History – Part One (1956–1988) |publisher=Goal.com |date=7 January 2011 |access-date=6 May 2015 |archive-date=31 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531055150/https://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2011/01/07/2293901/asian-cup-know-your-history-part-one-1956-1988 |url-status=live }}</ref> Israel was expelled from the AFC in 1972 due to the [[Arab–Israeli conflict]].<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://punditarena.com/football/thepateam/controversial-case-israeli-football/|title = The Controversial Case of Israel & International Football|date = 20 November 2014|access-date = 28 July 2021|archive-date = 17 August 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210817204712/https://punditarena.com/football/thepateam/controversial-case-israeli-football/|url-status = live}}</ref>

From 1980 to 1988, the number of teams taking part expanded to ten, but West Asian countries continued their domination in the 1980s with [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] becoming the first [[Arab World|Arab]] country to win the championship in [[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]] held at home soil, beating South Korea 3–0 in the [[1980 AFC Asian Cup Final|final]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/news/asia-s-greatest-national-teams-kuwait-1980s|title=Asia's greatest national teams: Kuwait (1980s)|website=the-AFC|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-date=2020-06-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609051221/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/news/asia-s-greatest-national-teams-kuwait-1980s|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]], after an initial poor start, began to emerge as the country qualified, then won two consecutive Asian trophies in [[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]] and [[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]], overcoming both [[China national football team|China]] and South Korea. Both tournaments were Saudi Arabia's debuts in any major competitions.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-asiancup-sau/factbox-saudi-arabia-at-the-asian-cup-idINKCN1OS0F3|title = Factbox: Saudi Arabia at the Asian Cup|newspaper = Reuters|date = 29 December 2018|access-date = 28 July 2021|archive-date = 28 July 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210728090230/https://www.reuters.com/article/soccer-asiancup-sau/factbox-saudi-arabia-at-the-asian-cup-idINKCN1OS0F3|url-status = live}}</ref>

===Japan's rise and modernization of Asian Cup (1992–2011)===
Until the 1990s, [[Japan national football team|Japan]] was mostly a small name in Asian football, and the country only qualified for the 1988 edition, the first time Japan took part in a continental football tournament. However, as Japan started to make a concrete move inroad to professional football, the country's fortunes increased. Japan hosted the [[1992 AFC Asian Cup]], which was reduced to eight teams and two groups, where it emerged victorious after beating Saudi Arabia, then-defending champions, 1–0, to win the country's first major international honour.<ref name=goalafc>{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2011/01/07/2293902/asian-cup-know-your-history-part-two-1992-2007 |title=Asian Cup: Know Your History – Part Two (1992–2007) |publisher=Goal.com |date=7 January 2011 |access-date=6 May 2015 |archive-date=29 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074310/http://m.goal.com/s/en/news/2293902/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url = https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/01/04/how-the-1992-asian-cup-awoke-japanese-football-the-continents-sleeping-giant/|title = How the 1992 Asian Cup awoke Japanese football, the continent's sleeping giant|date = 4 January 2019|access-date = 28 July 2021|archive-date = 4 May 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210504023945/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/01/04/how-the-1992-asian-cup-awoke-japanese-football-the-continents-sleeping-giant/|url-status = dead}}</ref>

The [[1996 AFC Asian Cup]] saw the tournament expand to twelve teams in its process of professionalization. Held by the United Arab Emirates, the [[United Arab Emirates national football team|hosts]] breached into the final for the first time ever but were unable to win the trophy after losing to Saudi Arabia, who made it into the country's fourth consecutive Asian finals, on penalties. It was Saudi Arabia's third Asian title.<ref name=goalafc /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/news/asian-classics-vingada-relives-saudi-arabia-s-1996-afc-asian-cup-triumph|title=The AFC|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-date=2021-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728090234/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/news/asian-classics-vingada-relives-saudi-arabia-s-1996-afc-asian-cup-triumph|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/the-1996-asian-cup-what-was-and-what-could-have-been-for-the-uae-1.121319|title=The 1996 Asian Cup: What was and what could have been for the UAE|date=9 January 2015|access-date=28 July 2021|archive-date=28 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728090227/https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/the-1996-asian-cup-what-was-and-what-could-have-been-for-the-uae-1.121319|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2000 AFC Asian Cup]] saw Lebanon take part in its first Asian tournament, and it was Saudi Arabia who again reached the [[2000 AFC Asian Cup Final|final]], but this time, Japan triumphed over Saudi Arabia 1–0 in a final filled with a majority of Saudi supporters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://parkview-modelhouse.com/sports/facts-of-the-2000-asian-cup-final-until-now-24/05/2021 |title=Facts of the 2000 Asian Cup Final until now – Parkview |website=parkview-modelhouse.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728090233/https://parkview-modelhouse.com/sports/facts-of-the-2000-asian-cup-final-until-now-24/05/2021 |archive-date=2021-07-28}}</ref> Japan would go on to retain their Asian trophy [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|four years later]], albeit in a more struggling style and a very heated, politically charged [[2004 AFC Asian Cup Final|final]] toward hosts China.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-08-08/japan-sink-china-in-heated-asia-cup-final/2022274|title = Japan sink China in heated Asia Cup final|newspaper = ABC News|date = 7 August 2004|access-date = 2021-07-28|archive-date = 2021-07-28|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210728090226/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-08-08/japan-sink-china-in-heated-asia-cup-final/2022274|url-status = live}}</ref> The 2004 edition was notable as it expanded to 16 teams, and marked Saudi Arabia's absence from an Asian Cup final for the first time.

The [[2007 AFC Asian Cup]] was the debut of [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]], which had abandoned the [[Oceania Football Confederation]] in 2006 (coincidentally the first team to qualify for the tournament), as well as being the first football competition in the world to be hosted by more than two nations, with four countries in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia) hosting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vietnamnews.vn/sports/150548/viet-nam-to-co-host-asian-cup-in-2007.html|title=Viet Nam to co-host Asian Cup in 2007|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-date=2021-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921140049/https://vietnamnews.vn/sports/150548/viet-nam-to-co-host-asian-cup-in-2007.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-06-17/australia-gets-presidents-blessing-to-join-afc-in/1595226|title=Australia gets President's blessing to join AFC in 2006|newspaper=ABC News|date=16 June 2005|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-date=2021-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728090230/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-06-17/australia-gets-presidents-blessing-to-join-afc-in/1595226|url-status=live}}</ref> In this tournament, [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] was crowned as Asian champions despite the ravaging American invasion, overpowering the likes of Australia, South Korea and Saudi Arabia in the process.<ref name=reuters>{{cite news|last=Lampen|first=Jerry|title=Iraq ride wave of support to lift Asian Cup|date=29 July 2007|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asia-idUKSP26426720070729|work=Reuters|access-date=13 September 2014|archive-date=25 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125060803/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asia-idUKSP26426720070729|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Australia (which joined the AFC in 2006), after its poor debut in 2007, rebounded to reach the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup Final|final]] in [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]] in Qatar, but lost to Japan after extra-time; the win for Japan meant it became the most decorated team in Asian football with four titles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/01/29/football.asian.japan.australia/index.html|title=Extra time winner secures Japan record fourth Asian Cup title|website=CNN|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-date=2021-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924042134/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/01/29/football.asian.japan.australia/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Still, the tournament was notable as the first Asian Cup to use the jersey numbers' order from 1 to 23, previously not practised in prior competitions.

===Expansion of the Asian Cup (2015–present)===
Following Australia's successes in the 2011 Asian Cup, the AFC approved the country to host the [[2015 AFC Asian Cup]]. At the tournament, Australia managed to clamp down every opponent with only one loss, against eventual finalist South Korea, whom Australia would get a 2–1 [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Final|final]] revenge after extra-time; the win officially sealed [[ASEAN Football Federation|Southeast Asia]]'s first Asian title as Australia joined the [[ASEAN Football Federation|AFF]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-31/australia-socceroos-win-asian-cup/6060038?nw=0|title = Australia wins Asian Cup thanks to Troisi's extra-time finish|website = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date = 31 January 2015|access-date = 2021-07-14|archive-date = 2021-07-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210714193652/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-31/australia-socceroos-win-asian-cup/6060038?nw=0|url-status = live}}</ref> AFC Asian Cup began on 12 January 2024 and ended on 10th February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Asian Cup News |url=https://panamupdates.com/afc-asian-cup-2024-live-stream-channels/ |website=Panamupdates |access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref>

At the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup]], [[video assistant referee]]s were used in the tournament for the first time,<ref>{{cite web|title=AFC plans to introduce VAR at UAE 2019|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/latest/news/afc-plans-to-introduce-var-at-afc-asian-cup-uae-2019|date=27 September 2018}}</ref> and the tournament expanded to 24 teams.<ref name="2019schedule">{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-asian-cup-uae-2019-match-schedule|publisher=AFC|title=AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 – Match Schedule|format=PDF|date=7 May 2018|access-date=19 October 2018|archive-date=18 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018211430/http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PdfFiles/afc-asian-cup-uae-2019-match-schedule|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, a fourth substitution was allowed during extra time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/latest/news/fourth-substitution-to-be-introduced-at-uae-2019|title=Fourth substitution to be introduced at UAE 2019|publisher=AFC|date=12 October 2018|access-date=22 October 2018|archive-date=16 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181016010427/http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/latest/news/fourth-substitution-to-be-introduced-at-uae-2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The tournament, hosted by the United Arab Emirates for the second time, witnessed the rise of [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]], who conquered its first ever Asian title after beating Japan in the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup Final|final]] 3–1.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/01/qatar-stun-japan-with-3-1-win-to-be-crowned-asian-cup-champions|title = Qatar stun Japan with 3–1 win to be crowned Asian Cup champions|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = February 2019|access-date = 2021-07-28|archive-date = 2019-05-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190507081628/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/01/qatar-stun-japan-with-3-1-win-to-be-crowned-asian-cup-champions|url-status = live}}</ref> The tournament was marred by the [[Qatar diplomatic crisis]], due to the UAE's entry ban on Qatari supporters, as well as shoe-throwing in the two teams' [[Qatar v United Arab Emirates (2019 AFC Asian Cup)|semi-final clash]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-30/asian-cup-blockade-derby-qatar-uae-shoe-throwing/10761494|title=Fans throw shoes as Qatar reach Asian Cup final|newspaper=ABC News|date=29 January 2019|access-date=2021-07-28|archive-date=2021-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728090227/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-30/asian-cup-blockade-derby-qatar-uae-shoe-throwing/10761494|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Format==
===Final tournament===
Since 1972, the final tournament has been played in two stages: the group stage and the knockout stage.

Since 2019, the Asian Cup final tournament has been contested by 24 teams, having been expanded from the 16-team format that was used from [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]] to [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]].<ref name="approval">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/executive-committee/exco-approves-expanded-afc-asian-cup-finals |title=ExCo approves expanded AFC Asian Cup finals |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=16 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503231420/http://www.the-afc.com/executive-committee/exco-approves-expanded-afc-asian-cup-finals |archive-date=3 May 2015}}</ref><ref name="regulations">{{cite web|url=https://assets.the-afc.com/migration/a/f/AFC%20Asian%20Cup%20China%202023%20Competition%20Regulations.pdf|title=AFC Asian Cup China 2023 Competition Regulations|publisher=AFC|date=10 September 2020}}</ref> Each team plays three games in a group of four, with the winners and runners-up from each group advancing to the knockout stage along with four best third-placed teams. In the knockout stage, the sixteen teams compete in a single-elimination tournament, beginning with the round of 16 and ending with the final match of the tournament.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!width=60| Year
! Teams
! Matches
! Format
|-
! [[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]]
! 4
! 6
|rowspan=3| round-robin group of 4
|-
! [[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]]
! 4
! 6
|-
! [[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]
! 4
! 6
|-
! [[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]]
! 5
! 10
| round-robin group of 5
|-
! [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]]
! 6
! 13
| group allocation matches, 2 groups of 3, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
|-
! [[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]]
! 6
! 10
| 2 groups of 3, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
|-
! [[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]]
! 10
! 24
|rowspan=3| 2 groups of 5, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
|-
! [[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]]
! 10
! 24
|-
! [[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]]
! 10
! 24
|-
! [[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]]
! 8
! 16
| 2 groups of 4, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
|-
! [[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]]
! 12
! 26
|rowspan=2| 3 groups of 4, quarter-finals, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
|-
! [[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]]
! 12
! 26
|-
! [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]
! 16
! 32
|rowspan=4| 4 groups of 4, quarter-finals, semi-finals, 3rd-place match, final
|-
! [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]]
! 16
! 32
|-
! [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]
! 16
! 32
|-
! [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]]
! 16
! 32
|-
! [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]]
! 24
! 51
|rowspan=4| 6 groups of 4, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, final
|-
! [[2023 AFC Asian Cup|2023]]
! 24
! 51
|-
! [[2027 AFC Asian Cup|2027]]
! 24
! 51
|-
! [[2031 AFC Asian Cup|2031]]
! 24
! 51
|}
{{Clear}}

==Trophy==
[[File:AFC Asian Cup at Fed Square.jpg|thumb|The original trophy launched in 1956, in use until 2015.]]
There have been two Asian Cup trophies; the first one used between [[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]] and [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]], and the second one in use since [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]].

The first trophy came in the form of a bowl with circular base. It was 42 centimetres tall and weighed 15 kilograms.<ref>{{YouTube|xY1e7FXfD28|AFC Asian Cup Trophy}}</ref> Until the [[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000 tournament]], the black base contained plaques engraved with names of every winning country, as well as the edition won.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/the-asian-cup-trophy-asia-cup-news-photo/650285412|title=The Asian Cup Trophy – Asia Cup|work=Getty Images|date=21 December 1996|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=27 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027143305/https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/the-asian-cup-trophy-asia-cup-news-photo/650285412|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://c8.alamy.com/comp/G9FBXR/soccer-asian-cup-2000-final-saudi-arabia-v-japan-G9FBXR.jpg|title=Japan coach Philippe Troussier lifts the Asian Cup trophy|work=[[Alamy]]|date=29 October 2000|access-date=27 October 2018|archive-date=27 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027143210/https://c8.alamy.com/comp/G9FBXR/soccer-asian-cup-2000-final-saudi-arabia-v-japan-G9FBXR.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref> The trophy was redesigned, adding more silver and reducing the black base to just a thin layer down. This base was plaque-free and the winning countries' names were engraved around the base.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/asiancup/news/the-remarkable-rise-of-asia-s-greatest-showpiece|title=The remarkable rise of Asia's greatest showpiece|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205150917/http://www.the-afc.com/asiancup/news/the-remarkable-rise-of-asia-s-greatest-showpiece|archive-date=5 February 2019|url-status=live|access-date=5 February 2019|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

During the draw for the 2019 group stage on 4 May 2018 at the [[Burj Khalifa]] in Dubai, an all-new trophy, made by London Silversmiths [[Thomas Lyte]], was unveiled. It is 78 centimetres tall, 42 centimetres wide, and weighs 15 kilograms of sterling silver.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/dazzling-new-afc-asian-cup-trophy-unveiled-in-dubai|title=Dazzling new AFC Asian Cup trophy unveiled in Dubai|publisher=Asian Football Confederation|date=4 May 2018|access-date=22 December 2018|archive-date=6 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406132042/http://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/dazzling-new-afc-asian-cup-trophy-unveiled-in-dubai|url-status=live}}</ref> The trophy is modelled after the [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotus flower]], a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant. The five petals of the lotus symbolize the five sub-confederations under the AFC.<ref>{{YouTube|6W7N_VkK2uU|Highlights: AFC Asian Cup 2019 trophy reveal}}</ref> The winning countries' names are engraved around the trophy base, which is separable from the trophy's main body. The trophy has a handle on each side.
==Results==
{{See also|List of AFC Asian Cup finals}}

;Key
* aet: result/match won [[Overtime (sports)|after extra time]]
* p: match won after [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]]
* TBD: to be determined

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:100%;"
|-
! rowspan="2"  style="width:2%;|Ed.
! rowspan="2"  style="width:5%;|Year
! rowspan="2"  style="width:13%;|Hosts
|width="1%" rowspan=21 style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top-style:hidden; border-bottom-style:hidden;"|
! colspan=3|Final
|width="1%" rowspan=21 style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top-style:hidden; border-bottom-style:hidden;"|
! colspan=3|Third place playoff or losing semi-finalists
|width="1%" rowspan=21 style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top-style:hidden; border-bottom-style:hidden;"|
! rowspan=2|Number of teams
|-
!  style="width:15%; |Champions
!  style="width:10%; |Score
!  style="width:15%; |Runners-up
!  style="width:15%; |Third place
!  style="width:10%; |Score
!  style="width:15%; |Fourth place
|-
|1
|[[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]]
|align=left| {{flag|British Hong Kong|1955|name=Hong Kong}}
|'''{{fb-big|KOR|1949}}'''
|[[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]]
|{{fb-big|ISR}}
|{{fb-big|HKG|1955}}
|[[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]]
|{{fb-big|South Vietnam}}
|4
|-
|2
|[[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]]
|align=left| {{nowrap|{{flag|Second Republic of Korea|1960|name=South Korea}}}}
|'''{{fb-big|KOR|1949}}'''
|[[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]]
|{{fb-big|ISR}}
|{{fb-big|ROC}}
|[[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]]
|{{fb-big|South Vietnam}}
|4
|-
|3
|[[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]
|align=left|{{flag|Israel}}
|'''{{fb-big|ISR}}'''
|[[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]]
|{{fb-big|IND}}
|{{fb-big|KOR|1949}}
|[[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]]
|{{fb-big|HKG|1959}}
|4
|-
|4
|[[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]]
|align=left| {{flag|Pahlavi Iran|1964|name=Iran}}
|'''{{fb-big|IRN|1964}}'''
|[[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]]
|{{fb-big|MYA|1948|name=Burma}}
|{{fb-big|ISR}}
|[[Round-robin tournament|round-robin]]
|{{fb-big|ROC}}
|5
|-
|5
|[[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]]
|align=left| {{flag|Thailand}}
|'''{{fb-big|IRN|1964}}'''
|'''[[1972 AFC Asian Cup final|2–1]]''' {{aet}}
|{{fb-big|KOR|1949}}
|{{fb-big|THA}}
|'''2–2''' {{aet}}<br />{{pso|5–3}}
|{{fb-big|Khmer Republic}}
|6
|-
|6
|[[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]]
|align=left| {{flag|Pahlavi Iran|1964|name=Iran}}
|'''{{fb-big|IRN|1964}}'''
|'''[[1976 AFC Asian Cup final|1–0]]'''
|{{fb-big|KUW}}
|{{fb-big|CHN}}
|'''1–0'''
|{{fb-big|IRQ|1963}}
|6
|-
|7
|[[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]]
|align=left| {{flag|Kuwait}}
|'''{{fb-big|KUW}}'''
|'''[[1980 AFC Asian Cup final|3–0]]'''
|{{fb-big|KOR|1949}}
|{{fb-big|IRN}}
|'''3–0'''
|{{fb-big|PRK|1948}}
|10
|-
|8
|[[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]]
|align=left| {{flag|Singapore}}
|'''{{fb-big|KSA}}'''
|'''[[1984 AFC Asian Cup final|2–0]]'''
|{{fb-big|CHN}}
|{{fb-big|KUW}}
|'''1–1''' {{aet}}<br />{{pso|5–3}}
|{{fb-big|IRN}}
|10
|-
|9
|[[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]]
|align=left| {{flag|Qatar}}
|'''{{fb-big|KSA}}'''
|'''[[1988 AFC Asian Cup final|0–0]]''' {{aet}}<br />{{pso|4–3}}
|{{fb-big|KOR|1984}}
|{{fb-big|IRN}}
|'''0–0''' {{aet}}<br />{{pso|3–0}}
|{{fb-big|CHN}}
|10
|-
|10
|[[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]]
|align=left| {{flag|Japan|1870}}
|'''{{fb-big|JPN|1870}}'''
|'''[[1992 AFC Asian Cup final|1–0]]'''
|{{fb-big|KSA}}
|{{fb-big|CHN}}
|'''1–1''' {{aet}}<br />{{pso|4–3}}
|{{fb-big|UAE}}
|8
|-
|11
|[[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]]
|align=left| {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|'''{{fb-big|KSA}}'''
|'''[[1996 AFC Asian Cup final|0–0]]''' {{aet}}<br />{{pso|4–2}}
|{{fb-big|UAE}}
|{{fb-big|IRN}}
|'''1–1''' {{aet}}<br />{{pso|3–2}}
|{{fb-big|KUW}}
|12
|-
|12
|[[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]]
|align=left| {{flag|Lebanon}}
|'''{{fb-big|JPN}}'''
|'''[[2000 AFC Asian Cup final|1–0]]'''
|{{fb-big|KSA}}
|{{fb-big|South Korea|1997}}
|'''1–0'''
|{{fb-big|CHN}}
|12
|-
|13
|[[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]
|align=left| {{flag|China}}
|'''{{fb-big|Japan}}'''
|'''[[2004 AFC Asian Cup final|3–1]]'''
|{{fb-big|CHN}}
|{{fb-big|IRN}}
|'''4–2'''
|{{fb-big|BHR}}
|16
|-
|14
|[[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]]
|align=left|{{unbulleted list|{{flag|Indonesia}}|{{flag|Malaysia}}|{{flag|Thailand}}|{{flag|Vietnam}}}}
|'''{{fb-big|IRQ|2004}}'''
|'''[[2007 AFC Asian Cup final|1–0]]'''
|{{fb-big|KSA}}
|{{fb-big|KOR|1997}}
|'''0–0''' {{aet}}<br />{{pso|6–5}}
|{{fb-big|Japan}}
|16
|-
|15
|[[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]
|align=left| {{flag|Qatar}}
|'''{{fb-big|JPN}}'''
|'''[[2011 AFC Asian Cup final|1–0]]''' {{aet}}
|{{fb-big|AUS}}
|{{fb-big|KOR|1997}}
|'''3–2'''
|{{fb-big|UZB}}
|16
|-
|16
|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]]
|align=left| {{flag|Australia}}
|'''{{fb-big|AUS}}'''
|'''[[2015 AFC Asian Cup final|2–1]]''' {{aet}}
|{{fb-big|KOR}}
|{{fb-big|UAE}}
|'''3–2'''
|{{fb-big|IRQ}}
|16
|-
|17
|[[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]]
| align="left" |{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|'''{{fb-big|QAT}}'''
|'''[[2019 AFC Asian Cup final|3–1]]'''
|{{fb-big|JPN}}
| colspan="3"|{{fb|IRN|size=30px}} and {{fb|UAE|size=30px}}
|24
|-
|18
|[[2023 AFC Asian Cup|2023]]
| align="left" |{{flag|Qatar}}
|'''{{fb-big|QAT}}'''
|'''[[2023 AFC Asian Cup final|3–1]]'''
|{{fb-big|JOR}}
| colspan="3"|{{fb|IRN|size=30px}} and {{fb|KOR|size=30px}}
|24
|- style=" height:5em;"
|19
|[[2027 AFC Asian Cup|''2027'']]
| align="left" |''{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}''
|TBD
|
|TBD
| colspan="3"|TBD and TBD
|24
|}

==Teams reaching the top four==
{{See also|National team appearances in the AFC Asian Cup#Team records|l1=Asian Cup comprehensive team results by tournament}}

First four edition of competition only had four or five teams and played in one single group. Since [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]], the final tournament has introduced the knockout stage. Since [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]], no third place play-off has been played; from [[2023 AFC Asian Cup|2023]], losing semi-finalists are ranked by the AFC based on goal difference in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web |title=AFC Competition Operations Manual (Edition 2023) |url=https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/miscellaneous-regulations/AFC-Competition-Operations-Manual-(Edition-2023).pdf |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |page=88 |quote=If there is no 3rd/4th place playoff ... the Participating Teams ranked three (3) and four (4) shall be determined in descending order as follows:<br>(i) superior goal difference in the semi-finals;<br>(ii) higher number of goals scored in the semi-finals;<br>(iii) superior goal difference in the quarter-finals (if applicable);<br>(iv) higher number of goals scored in the quarter-finals (if applicable)...}}</ref>

'''Bold text''' denotes team was host country.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
!Team
! Champions
! Runners-up
! Third place
! Fourth place
! Semi-finalist
! Top 4<br>total
|-
| {{fb|JPN}}
|style=background:#FFD700|4 ('''[[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]]''', [[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]], [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]], [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]])
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]])
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|6
|-
| {{fb|KSA}}
|style=background:#FFD700|3 ([[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]], [[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]], [[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]])
|style=background:#C0C0C0|3 ([[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]], [[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]], [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]])
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|6
|-
| {{fb|IRN}}
|style=background:#FFD700|3 ('''[[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]]''', [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]], '''[[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]]''')
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#CC9966|4 ([[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]], [[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]], [[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]], [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]])
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]])
| style="background:#81c846"|2 ([[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]], [[2023 AFC Asian Cup|2023]])
|align=center|10
|-
| {{fb|KOR}}
|style=background:#FFD700|2 ([[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]], '''[[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]]''')
|style=background:#C0C0C0|4 ([[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]], [[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]], [[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]], [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]])
|style=background:#CC9966|4 ([[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]], [[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]], [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]], [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]])
|{{N/A}}
| style="background:#81c846"|1 ([[2023 AFC Asian Cup|2023]])
|align=center|11
|-
| {{fb|Qatar}}
|style=background:#FFD700|2 ([[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]], '''[[2023 AFC Asian Cup|2023]]''')
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|2
|-
| {{fb|ISR}}
|style=background:#FFD700|1 ('''[[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]]''')
|style=background:#C0C0C0|2 ([[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]], [[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]])
|style=background:#CC9966|1 ([[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]])
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|4
|-
| {{fb|KUW}}
|style=background:#FFD700|1 ('''[[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]]''')
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]])
|style=background:#CC9966|1 ([[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]])
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|4
|-
| {{fb|AUS}}
|style=background:#FFD700|1 ('''[[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]]''')
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]])
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|2
|-
| {{fb|IRQ}}
|style=background:#FFD700|1 ([[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]])
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#9ACDFF|2 ([[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]], [[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|3
|-
| {{fb|CHN}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#C0C0C0|2 ([[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]], '''[[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]''')
|style=background:#CC9966|2 ([[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]], [[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]])
|style=background:#9ACDFF|2 ([[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]], [[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|6
|-
| {{fb|UAE}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ('''[[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]]''')
|style=background:#CC9966|1 ([[2015 AFC Asian Cup|2015]])
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]])
| style="background:#81c846"|1 ('''[[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]]''')
|align=center|4
|-
| {{fb|IND}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]])
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|1
|-
| {{fb|MYA}}{{efn|{{fb|Burma|1974}} until 1989.}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]])
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|1
|-
| {{fb|JOR}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#C0C0C0|1 ([[2023 AFC Asian Cup|2023]])
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|1
|-
| {{fb|HKG}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#CC9966|1 ('''[[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]]''')
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[1964 AFC Asian Cup|1964]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|2
|-
| {{fb|TPE}}{{efn|{{fb|Republic of China}} until 1980.}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#CC9966|1 ([[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]])
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|2
|-
| {{fb|THA}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#CC9966|1 ('''[[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]]''')
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|1
|-
| {{fb|VIE}}{{efn|Including results representing {{fb|South Vietnam}}.}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#9ACDFF|2 ([[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]], [[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|2
|-
| {{fb|CAM}}{{efn|{{fb|Khmer Republic}} from 1970 to 1975.}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|1
|-
| {{fb|PRK}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|1
|-
| {{fb|BHR}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|1
|-
| {{fb|UZB}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|{{N/A}}
|style=background:#9ACDFF|1 ([[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]])
|{{N/A}}
|align=center|1
|}

[[File:Asian_Cup_Results_2024.png|AFC Asian Cup Results]]

==Records and statistics==
{{main|AFC Asian Cup records and statistics}}
{{Further|AFC Asian Cup qualifiers}}

==Awards==
{{Main|AFC Asian Cup awards}}
There are currently five post-tournament awards:
* the '''Most Valuable Player''' for best player;
* the '''Top Goalscorer''' for most prolific goal scorer;
* the '''Best Goalkeeper ''' for most outstanding goalkeeper;
* the '''Team of the Tournament''' for best combined team of players at the tournament;
* the '''Fair Play Award''' for the team with the best record of fair play.

==Controversies==
Despite being the second oldest continental football tournament, the AFC Asian Cup has suffered numerous criticisms.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran's success reflects the failures of Asian football |url=https://www.economist.com/game-theory/2017/06/14/irans-success-reflects-the-failures-of-asian-football |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=21 January 2019 |date=14 June 2017 |archive-date=21 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232536/https://www.economist.com/game-theory/2017/06/14/irans-success-reflects-the-failures-of-asian-football |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Panja |first1=Tariq |title=Politics Looms Over Empty Seats as Saudi Arabia Faces Qatar in Asian Cup |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/sports/qatar-saudi-arabia-asian-cup.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=21 January 2019 |date=17 January 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201163356/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/sports/qatar-saudi-arabia-asian-cup.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="2011goal.com">{{cite web |last1=Paraskevas |first1=Chris |title=Asian Cup 2011 Comment: Empty Stadiums Hurting Asian Football And Qatar |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/3550/asian-cup/2011/01/21/2315984/asian-cup-2011-comment-empty-stadiums-hurting-asian-football-and- |website=www.goal.com |access-date=21 January 2019 |language=en |archive-date=21 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232417/https://www.goal.com/en/news/3550/asian-cup/2011/01/21/2315984/asian-cup-2011-comment-empty-stadiums-hurting-asian-football-and- |url-status=live }}</ref> Criticisms over the inability of the AFC Asian Cup to attract large attendances, political interference, high costs of traveling between AFC member states and different cultures were highlighted over the Asian Cup.

===Political interference===
The AFC Asian Cup is marked with numerous instances of political interference. One of these was the case of [[Israel national football team|Israel]], as the team used to be a member of the AFC but following the [[Yom Kippur War]] and increasing hostility from the Arab AFC members, Israel was expelled from the AFC in 1974 and had to compete in the [[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]], until being granted [[UEFA]] membership in 1990.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.punditarena.com/football/cheffernan/controversial-case-israeli-football/|title=The Controversial Case of Israel & International Football|publisher=Pundit Arena|website=punditarena.com|access-date=29 July 2018|date=20 November 2014|author=Conor Heffernan|archive-date=29 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171022/http://www.punditarena.com/football/cheffernan/controversial-case-israeli-football/|url-status=live}}</ref> Meanwhile, similar cases also exist in other AFC tournaments like the one between [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] and [[Iran national football team|Iran]]. Following the [[2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran]], Saudi Arabia had refused to play against Iran and even threatened to withdraw, afterwards blowing over onto international level.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.memri.org/reports/saudi-iranian-tension-extends-sports-%E2%80%93-saudi-arabian-football-federation-announces-we-will|title=Saudi-Iranian Tension Extends To Sports – Saudi Arabian Football Federation Announces: We Will Not Play In Iran|date=6 January 2016|website=memri.org|publisher=The Middle East Media Research Institute|access-date=29 July 2018|archive-date=29 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171258/https://www.memri.org/reports/saudi-iranian-tension-extends-sports-%E2%80%93-saudi-arabian-football-federation-announces-we-will|url-status=live}}</ref> Tensions between the two Koreas during [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup]] had led [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]] to withdraw from hosting the [[South Korea national football team|South Korean team]] and refusing to display the [[Flag of South Korea|South Korean flag]] and play [[Aegukga|their national anthem]]. As a result, North Korea's home matches were moved to [[Shanghai]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-koreas/koreas-match-moved-to-shanghai-after-anthem-row-idUKL0789295820080307|title=Koreas match moved to Shanghai after anthem row|author=Mark Ledsom|date=7 March 2008|publisher=[[Reuters]]|access-date=29 July 2018|archive-date=29 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171203/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-fifa-koreas/koreas-match-moved-to-shanghai-after-anthem-row-idUKL0789295820080307|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Low attendances===
Low crowds have also been another problem for the AFC Asian Cup. At the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]], there had been concerns over low record of crowds due to little football interests and high costs of traveling between Asian nations leading to then-Australia coach [[Holger Osieck]] claiming that the [[Qatar Armed Forces]] were used to fill up the stadiums simply for aesthetics, while Australia international [[Brett Holman]] commented, "Worldwide it's not recognized as a good tournament".<ref name="2011goal.com"/>

In 2010, Qatar was chosen as the host country for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The country became the first in the Middle East to host the world's biggest sporting event, triumphing over strong competition from the United States and Australia. Approximately 5 billion people were involved in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as they followed tournament content through various platforms and devices in the media universe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=One Month On: 5 billion engaged with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ |url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/qatar2022/news/origin1904-p.cxm.fifa.com/one-month-on-5-billion-engaged-with-the-fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-tm |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=www.fifa.com |language=en}}</ref>

On 10 Feb 2024, the AFC announced that the tournament in Qatar had surpassed the previous total attendance record of 1.04 million set during the 2004 tournament in China, with a new record of 1.06 million. This achievement was reached prior to the quarter-final stage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Islam |first=Arif |date=2024-02-12 |title=What the 2023 Asian Cup taught us about the commercial growth of the tournament and soccer's potential in the region |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/insights/analysis/2023-afc-asian-cup-qatar-viewership-sponsorship-attendance-commercial-growth/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=SportsPro |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/news/afc_asian_cup_qatar_2023_sets_new_all-time_attendance_record.html | title=AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ sets new all-time attendance record }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Football at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]
* [[AFC Women's Asian Cup]]
* [[Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament]]
* [[AFC Asian Cup qualifiers]]
* [[AFC U-23 Asian Cup]]
* [[AFC U-20 Asian Cup]]
* [[AFC U-17 Asian Cup]]
* [[ASEAN Championship]]
* [[CAFA Championship]]
* [[EAFF E-1 Football Championship]]
* [[SAFF Championship]]
* [[WAFF Championship]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website}}
*{{youtube|channel=UCXTRFt1vLvZpahQtiKJjLaQ}}
*[http://www.the-afc.com/afc/documents/PDFFiles/afc-asian-cup-history-book-2019-edition AFC Asian Cup official history book]
*[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/asiachamp.html RSSSF archive]

{{AFC Asian Cup winners}}
{{AFC Asian Cup}}
{{AFC Asian Cup symbols}}
{{Countries at the AFC Asian Cup}}
{{International football}}
{{AFC men's competitions}}
{{Asian Championships}}

[[Category:AFC Asian Cup| ]]
[[Category:Men's continental association football competitions in Asia|Asian Cup]]
[[Category:Men's international association football competitions in Asia|Asian Cup]]
[[Category:Asian Football Confederation competitions for men's national teams|Asian Cup]]
[[Category:Asian championships]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1956]]