AFC Asian Cup
The upcoming edition is set to be another fiesta of Asian football and the-AFC.com takes a trip down memory lane to highlight some fascinating facts and figures.
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Japan lead
Japan have won the AFC Asian Cup title a record four times, doing so in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011. Their 2011 success came after a 1-0 win against Australia in the final.
Perfect IR Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran are the only team to won the AFC Asian Cup on three consecutive occasions - doing so in 1968, 1972 and 1976.
Japan have won the AFC Asian Cup title a record four times, doing so in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011. Their 2011 success came after a 1-0 win against Australia in the final.
Perfect IR Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran are the only team to won the AFC Asian Cup on three consecutive occasions - doing so in 1968, 1972 and 1976.
Cahill's run
Tim Cahill scored Australia’s opening goal at three consecutive AFC Asian Cups – 2007, 2011 and 2015 – a feat unmatched by any other player. He is also the only player in the last 20 years to score in an AFC Asian Cup game after turning 35, doing so against Kuwait and China PR in 2015.
Familiar foes
China PR and IR Iran will meet for the eighth time at Saudi Arabia 2027, making it the joint-most played fixture in AFC Asian Cup history alongside Korea Republic v Kuwait.
Tim Cahill scored Australia’s opening goal at three consecutive AFC Asian Cups – 2007, 2011 and 2015 – a feat unmatched by any other player. He is also the only player in the last 20 years to score in an AFC Asian Cup game after turning 35, doing so against Kuwait and China PR in 2015.
Familiar foes
China PR and IR Iran will meet for the eighth time at Saudi Arabia 2027, making it the joint-most played fixture in AFC Asian Cup history alongside Korea Republic v Kuwait.
Incredible Mahmoud
Younis Mahmoud is the only player to have scored at four different AFC Asian Cups – 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2015. He is also one of four players to score both his nation's first and last goals of a title-winning campaign, achieving the feat in 2007.
Younis Mahmoud is the only player to have scored at four different AFC Asian Cups – 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2015. He is also one of four players to score both his nation's first and last goals of a title-winning campaign, achieving the feat in 2007.
Ali the tormentor
DPR Korea were beaten by Qatar’s Almoez Ali when he scored four goals in their 2019 meeting, one of only five four-goal individual performances in competition history
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Winning bow
Saudi Arabia are one of only three nations to win the AFC Asian Cup on debut, doing so in 1984. The hosts of the upcoming edition lifted the trophy twice more after that - in 1988 and 1996. Both finals were decided by penalties, the only occasions where shootouts were needed to confirm the outcome.
Korea Republic's final hoodoo
Having won the first two editions of the AFC Asian Cup, Korea Republic's next four appearances in the final have ended in defeat - the most suffered by any team.
Saudi Arabia are one of only three nations to win the AFC Asian Cup on debut, doing so in 1984. The hosts of the upcoming edition lifted the trophy twice more after that - in 1988 and 1996. Both finals were decided by penalties, the only occasions where shootouts were needed to confirm the outcome.
Korea Republic's final hoodoo
Having won the first two editions of the AFC Asian Cup, Korea Republic's next four appearances in the final have ended in defeat - the most suffered by any team.
