AFC U23 Asian Cup
The Continent’s best talents are poised to prove that they can make the next step in their careers at the seventh edition of the tournament, which runs from January 6 to 24.
Breakout stars from the previous iteration in 2024 include Most Valuable Player Joel Fujita and top scorer Ali Jasim, while those who have done likewise in preceding editions comprise the likes of Yuito Suzuki and Almoez Ali.
The 16-strong cast was finalised after 15 teams progressed via the Qualifiers in September to join first-time hosts Saudi Arabia, who automatically qualified. All five former champions—Iraq, Japan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan—will feature and along with Australia and Jordan, are the only seven teams to be involved at every Finals.
The Kyrgyz Republic and Lebanon will make their debuts, taking the total number of teams in Finals history to 27.
Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium provides the backdrop for the first match on Tuesday—a Group A opener between Vietnam and Jordan at 2.30pm. Runners-up in 2018, the Southeast Asians reached the last eight in 2024 and are at their sixth Finals, while Jordan’s best finish was third place in 2013; the pair have met twice before, with the West Asians winning 3-1 in 2016 and a goal-less draw in 2020.
A partisan crowd is expected to turn out at 7pm when 2022 champions Saudi Arabia kickstart their quest for a second title at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah against the Kyrgyz Republic, whose success in their seventh qualifying campaign sealed a maiden Finals berth.
Group B kicks off the next day, January 7, with a 2.30pm clash at the King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium between holders Japan—the only side with more than one title after also winning in 2016—and Syria, whose qualification is their fifth and ends an absence since 2020. The West Asians reached the quarter-finals in 2013 and 2020, defeating Japan 2-1 en-route in the latter in their sole previous encounter.
At 7.30pm, the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium hosts Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, both involved at the Finals for a sixth occasion. The former will hope to surpass their third-place finish from 2018, while the latter’s furthest run is to the last eight (2013, 2016, 2020).
In Riyadh, Group C takes flight on January 7 at 2.30pm when Korea Republic and the Islamic Republic of Iran go head-to-head at the Al Shabab Stadium. Both met in 2020 when the East Asians triumphed 2-1 in the Group Stage on the way to clinching the title; the Central Asians, meanwhile, will aim to exceed their best finish—the quarter-finals in 2016—in their fifth Finals involvement.
Uzbekistan, who have finished in the top four in each of the last four editions, including a 2018 success and 2024 runners-up placing, then begin their journey at 5pm at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium against Lebanon, who make their Finals bow after qualifying on their seventh attempt.
The first matchday concludes with two Group D fixtures on January 8, starting at 2.30pm at the Al Shabab Stadium where Australia, third-placed in 2020, take on 2020 quarter-finalists Thailand—appearing in their sixth Finals—in an all-ASEAN showdown.
Iraq, who fell just short of adding to their 2013 crown when they finished third in 2024, commence their latest bid at 5pm against China PR at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Stadium, with the East Asians aiming to advance to the Knockout Stage for the first time at their sixth Finals.
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