The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 is just around the corner, and the excitement is palpable as Asia’s top 24 teams gear up to learn their route to ultimate glory. In just three days’ time, the Final Draw ceremony will take place in Doha’s Katara Opera House, a world-renowned cultural hub that will provide the perfect setting for the event. The sophisticated architecture of the Opera House fuses modern and traditional Islamic design elements, making it an ideal venue to showcase the richness of Qatari and Asian culture.
The teams will be divided into four pots of six each in accordance with the latest FIFA Ranking. To ensure that Qatar commences the tournament with the opening match, the hosts have been allocated the first position in Pot 1. The full list of teams is as follows:
Pot 1: Qatar, Japan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Korea Republic, Australia, Saudi Arabia
Pot 2: Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Uzbekistan, China PR, Jordan
Pot 3: Bahrain, Syria, Palestine, Vietnam, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon
Pot 4: India, Tajikistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and Indonesia
Carlos Queiroz’s men are bidding to become only the fifth team to win back-to-back Asian crowns after IR Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, and Saudi Arabia. The defending champions will have the home advantage, with the tournament being played at World Cup venues, as Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup 2022. As many as 13 teams at the AFC Asian Cup™ 2023 were also present at the 2011 edition.
Tajikistan will become the 36th debutant in AFC Asian Cup™ history when they take to the field in Qatar. They are the only new face at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, and their qualification means that since the competition’s inception in 1956, only two editions have not been graced by at least one debutant.
Only three of the remaining 23 teams were not involved in the 2019 showpiece in the UAE – Indonesia, Hong Kong, China and Malaysia. While the Garuda and Harimau Malaya both last took part in 2007, Hong Kong, China’s participation is their first since the fourth edition that took place in 1968.
IR Iran and Korea Republic will each be contesting their 15th AFC Asian Cup, two more than China PR, who are second on the list. IR Iran have played the most games in Finals history with 68 and are also the only team to have lifted the trophy three times in a row (1968, 1972, 1976). Japan, the tournament’s most successful side with four triumphs, and 2007 champions Iraq are the eighth and ninth teams to reach 10 AFC Asian Cup™ participations.
The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 promises to be a thrilling tournament, with 24 teams vying for the ultimate glory. The Final Draw ceremony is just the beginning of what is sure to be an enthralling journey. Continue following Betting Gods for all the latest AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 news.
