The AFC Asian Cup 2023 is all set to make a return, following its last 2019 edition, check out the start date for the next edition of the tournament, host country, qualified teams, draw
Qatar won the 2019 tournament for the first time with defending champions, Australia, getting knocked out early in the quarter-finals.
AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qatar schedule, date, draw, qualified teams list and host country
The Final Draw for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 is set to be held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Katara Opera House, in Doha, Qatar.
👉The FIFA rankings of May,2023 is used as basis for the seeding. #AFC pic.twitter.com/ODqVkPgGkK
— ASEAN FOOTBALL (@theaseanball) March 3, 2023
📄 Local Organising Committee formed for AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023
H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani has been appointed as Chairman of the LOC, and Mansoor Al Ansari as the Managing Director#AsianCup2023 pic.twitter.com/qbFVp5iMXp
— Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) February 28, 2023
Aside from winning the last edition, Qatar are also set to host the next AFC Asian Cup. A number of Asian teams made impressive performances at the 2022 World Cup, including the Socceroos. Hopefully, the teams will carry on their impressive run of form in the next AFC Asian Cup as well.
Next AFC Asian Cup start date
Aside from 2007, the AFC Asian Cup has taken place every four years up until now. Despite the next AFC Asian Cup originally slated to take place from June to July 2023, there may now be changes in timings.
Although June to July 2023 presents brief FIFA window, a new host could bring up the need for new dates. Reports suggest that the upcoming AFC Asian Cup could move to early 2024. The Qatar Football Association recently confirmed on February 28, 2023 that the tournament start on January 12, 2024 and run until February 10.
Next AFC Asian Cup host
China originally won the rights to host the 2023 AFC Asian Cup back in 2019. However, due to the country’s COVID-19 strict restrictions, they relinquished those rights back in 2022. Following which, Qatar won the rights to host back in October 2022 beating past Indonesia and South Korea.
Qatar recently hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup as well, where they pushed back the tournament to November and December due to the extreme heat. As such, the Middle East nation are probably doing the same for The Asian Cup as well. January and February are the winter months in Qatar.
Next AFC Asian Cup qualified teams
There are a total of 24 nations that have qualified for the next AFC Asian Cup. The AFC Asian Cup qualifiers began back in June 2019, and concluded three years later. This year, Tajikistan are the only nation set to make its debut at the tournament.
Meanwhile, Indonesia and Malaysia are making a return this year, having not qualified since 2007. Joining them are Hong Kong, who are also coming back after a long absence. Hong Kong last appeared in the AFC Asian Cup back in 1968.
| Country | Apps | Titles (Last) |
| Qatar | 11 | 1 (2019) |
| Japan | 10 | 4 (2011) |
| Syria | 10 | — |
| South Korea | 15 | 2 (1960) |
| Australia | 5 | 1 (2015) |
| Iran | 15 | 3 (1976) |
| Saudi Arabia | 11 | 3 (1996) |
| United Arab Emirates | 11 | — |
| China | 13 | — |
| Iraq | 10 | 1 (2007) |
| Oman | 5 | — |
| Vietnam | 5 | — |
| Lebanon | 3 | — |
| Palestine | 3 | — |
| Uzbekistan | 8 | — |
| Thailand | 8 | — |
| India | 5 | — |
| Hong Kong | 4 | — |
| Tajikistan | 0 | — |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2 | — |
| Bahrain | 7 | — |
| Malaysia | 4 | — |
| Jordan | 5 | — |
| Indonesia | 5 | — |