AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024

It promises to be intense and as we wait in anticipation for the Qualifiers, the-AFC.com highlights some interesting facts and figures about the AFC U23 Asian Cup.

The 44 sides were drawn into 11 groups for the Qualifiers, which will be contested on September 1-9, 2025.

The 11 group winners and four best best-ranked runners-up will join Saudi Arabia, who are hosting the tournament for the first time, in January's Finals.

Lee will take charge with a key short-term objective of preparing the squad for the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 in January, with the official draw for the Qualifiers set to take place in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

The ceremony, to be held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, will sort the cast into 11 groups to do battle for the Qualifiers, which will take place between September 1 and 9, 2025.

It was a well deserved triumph for Go Oiwa's side as they added the title to the one won in 2016 while runners-up Uzbekistan and third-placed Iraq joined them in qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Oiwa, who was named the continent’s top coach after steering Japan to the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ title earlier this year, has extended his contract until the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Long-range screamers, magnificent solo efforts, stunning free-kicks and superb team moves, the sixth edition of one the continent’s premier youth competitions saw goals from all angles and distances to delight lovers of Asian football across the globe.

After Japan’s win over Uzbekistan in the final, the-AFC.com now looks back on the competition and asks you, the fans, to determine the standout NEOM Future Star of the Tournament.

We’ve selected six nominees who delivered eye-catching performances throughout the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024, so review the list and don’t forget to vote for your favourite NEOM Future Star at the bottom of the article.

It was a fitting finale to a tournament that saw thrills and spills in equal measure so join the-AFC.com as we take a look at some key takeaways from the tournament.

Kokubo threw himself to his right to keep out Rakhmonaliev’s strike after Hiroki Sekine had been judged to have handled the ball in the penalty area deep into added time with the Japanese leading through Fuki Yamada’s fine finish.

Fuki Yamada’s sole goal in the first minute of added time, coupled with a Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s missed penalty, ended the 2018 winners’ hopes of adding a second title, which were high given their perfect record of five wins from five games in the tournament without conceding a single goal heading into this match.

It was also a second loss in as many finals for Timur Kapadze, who was also at the helm when they lost to Saudi Arabia at the 2022 edition, and the 42-year-old head coach admitted that the failure hurt.