Defending champions Qatar will host the Asian Cup for the third time in their history, a year after the World Cup.
The 2023 Asian Cup football tournament will be held in Qatar, the Asian Football Confederation [AFC] has announced after China withdrew earlier this year because of its “zero-COVID” policy.
The Asian Cup is held every four years. Qatar won the tournament’s last edition, which was hosted by the United Arab Emirates in 2019.
This is the third time Qatar will be hosting the tournament, having staged it in 1988 and 2011.
In June 2019, China was named host for the 2023 event but they withdrew in May this year, leaving the AFC scrambling to find a new host for its flagship men’s 24-team football tournament.
South Korea and Indonesia were the two other countries in the running after China’s withdrawal, but Qatar got the nod on Monday.
Qatar will be hosting the 2022 World Cup, which kicks off on November 20. The World Cup, usually held in the northern hemisphere’s summer, was moved to November and December because of the extreme heat in Qatar during June and July.
The Gulf country has built seven new stadiums and upgraded another around the capital Doha to host the 32-team World Cup.
No dates have been announced yet for the 2023 Asian Cup by the AFC.
AFC chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa hailed Qatar’s “world-class infrastructure and unrivalled hosting capabilities” and said Qatar is ready to put on the event despite the short lead time to prepare.
“Given the short lead time in preparation, we know that the hard work begins immediately but with their existing world-class infrastructure and unrivalled hosting capabilities, we are confident that Qatar will stage a worthy spectacle befitting the prestige and stature of Asia’s crown jewel,” he said in a statement.
Menu
-
Search
- scores
- NFL
- NCAAF
- NHL
- NBA
- MLB
- Soccer
- …
- MMA
- Boxing
- CFL
- Chalk
- NCAA
- Cricket
- F1
- Golf
- Horse
- LLWS
- NASCAR
- NBA G League
- NCAAM
- NCAAW
- Olympic Sports
- Racing
- RN BB
- RN FB
- Rugby
- Tennis
- WNBA
- WWE
- X Games
- XFL
- More ESPN
- Fantasy
- Listen
- Watch
- ESPN+
- AFC Asian Cup QualifiersAsian Cup Qualifiers
- HomeHome
- ScoresScores
- TableTable
- Fixtures & ResultsFixtures & Results
- TeamsTeams
- StatisticsStatistics
- TransfersTransfers
AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama 15hGabriel Tan
With glaring omissions in attack from their FIFA World Cup squad, it remains to be seen in Japan have enough
firepower for their quarterfinal quest. James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images 19hReuters
Do Japan have enough firepower to gun for quarterfinal target after Furuhashi, Osako omissions?
Kyogo, Osako miss out as Japan name WC squad
Kyogo Furuhashi and Yuya Osako were the highest-profile omissions as Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu finalised his FIFA World Cup squad on Tuesday.
Mike Egerton - PA Images via Getty Images
14dGabriel Tan
Farewell to an icon: Nakamura's five career-defining chapters as Asian legend announces retirement
With Shunsuke Nakamura announcing his impending retirement, we look back at the glittering career of the Asian football icon.
MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images
15dGabriel Tan
Will Park's departure after AFF Championship mark end of Vietnam's golden era?
Can Vietnam continue to rise on the Asian football stage even after the confirmation that their most-successful coach Park Hang-seo will be leaving?
MAHMOUD KHALED/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
16dReuters
Qatar replaces China as AFC Asian Cup 2023 host
2022 FIFA World Cup home nation Qatar has been announced as the new host for AFC Asian Cup 2023.
Etsuo Hara/Getty Images
41dGabriel Tan
Five questions Asia's hopefuls need answered in final international break before World Cup
With just two months to go to the FIFA World Cup, what do Asia's hopefuls have to sort out in the final international break before the tournament?
Football Association of Singapore
50dGabriel Tan
Singapore coach Nishigaya faces juggling act ahead of Vietnam, India tests
Singapore's squad for games against Vietnam and India highlight a unique juggling act for coach Takayuki Nishigaya ahead of the AFF Championship.
Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images
51dGabriel Tan
With Son making a slow start to the new season, do South Korea need a Plan B for the World Cup?
Given Son Heung-min's slow start to the new season, do South Korea need to start coming up with a Plan B for the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images
54dGabriel Tan
After shining against Man United, one-time Barca and Real prospect Kubo could be finally ready to make his mark
Having spent time at Barcelona and Real Madrid, Japan's Takefusa Kubo could finally be ready to shine after impressing against Manchester United.
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images
55dGabriel Tan
With World Cup tests against England, U.S. on the horizon, what can returning Queiroz bring to Iran?
Iran have ushered in the second coming of Carlos Queiroz, but will that be enough to upset England and United States at the FIFA World Cup?
Hector Vivas/Getty Images
56dESPN
Queiroz to lead Iran at World Cup vs. England, U.S.
Carlos Queiroz has been reappointed as coach of Iran ahead of their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign, where they will take on England and United States.
AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah
63dGabriel Tan
The Much-Too-Early 2022 AFF Championship predictions
With the group-stage draw done but still four months away from kickoff, we make some much-too-early predictions for the 2022 AFF Championship.
Football Association of Malaysia
64dGabriel Tan
Malaysia, Singapore to renew hostilities at AFF Championship; Thailand, Indonesia meet in rematch of final
Malaysia and Singapore will meet in the group stage of the 2022 AFF Championship, while Thailand and Indonesia will face off in a final rematch.
Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
78dGabriel Tan
The stuff of dreams: Ambitious Ritsu Doan still has plenty he wants to achieve in his career
Don't try telling Japanese ace Ritsu Doan he's already done plenty in his career at the age of 24. There is still plenty more he hopes to achieve.
Stefan Puchner/dpa via AP
82dGabriel Tan
Punching above their weight: Flying start in Bundesliga proves Doan, Freiburg are perfect match
Ritsu Doan and Freiburg could just prove to be a match made in heaven. Especially if his start to life in the Bundesliga is anything to go by.
Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images
89dGabriel Tan
Son, Minamino... and Iqbal: The Asian stars to watch in the 2022-23 European season
With the 2022-23 European football season upon us, we look at the Asian stars to keep a close eye on -- from Son Heung-min to Zidane Iqbal.
Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports
93dGabriel Tan
8+1: Breaking down how the Asian qualifiers will work for the 48-team World Cup in 2026
The Asian Football Confederation has announced the new qualification format for the 48-team FIFA World Cup in 2026 but how will it work?
TIM KEETON/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
111dGabriel Tan
"World-class" Minamino backed by Klopp to succeed in Ligue 1
After parting ways with Takumi Minamino this summer, Jurgen Klopp has backed his "world-class" former charge to succeed in Ligue 1 with Monaco.
TENGKU BAHAR/AFP via Getty Images
139dGabriel Tan
When ASEAN quartet last featured together at the AFC Asian Cup in 2007
With Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam headed for next year's AFC Asian Cup, we look back at the time they co-hosted the tournament in 2007.
AP Photo/Vincent Thian
140dGabriel Tan
15 years after co-hosting Asian Cup, ASEAN quartet is back on their own merit
Having been co-hosts in 2007, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam will all feature at the AFC Asian Cup again next year -- this time on merit.
PSSI
140dGabriel Tan
Indonesia qualify for first Asian Cup since 2007, eliminating Philippines in the process
Indonesia have qualified for their first AFC Asian Cup in 15 years with a resounding 7-0 win over Nepal, eliminating Philippines in the process.
Football Association of Malaysia
141dGabriel Tan
At long last, Malaysia seal AFC Asian Cup return after 15-year absence
Malaysia have claimed a 4-1 win over Bangladesh to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since co-hosting the tournament in 2007.
Football Association of Thailand
141dGabriel Tan
Thailand, India, Hong Kong seal Asian Cup berths ahead of final qualifiers
Thailand, India and Hong Kong have progressed to AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Tuesday even before taking to the field for their final qualifiers.
How Foo Yeen/Getty Images
143dGabriel Tan
ASEAN quartet still in the hunt but how promising are their AFC Asian Cup 2023 chances?
Four Southeast Asian sides remain in the hunt to qualify for AFC Asian Cup 2023, but how realistic are their prospects with one game remaining?
Asian Football Confederation
144dGabriel Tan
Holtmann's dramatic debut winner keeps Azkals firmly in Asian Cup hunt
Gerrit Holtmann's Philippines debut has proven to be worth the wait after he scored a 93rd-minute winner to hand them a 1-0 win over Mongolia.
AFC Cup Q Standings
Jordan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +6 | 9 |
Indonesia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +7 | 6 |
Kuwait | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 3 |
Nepal | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -12 | 0 |
Palestine | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +10 | 9 |
Philippines | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 4 |
Mongolia | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Yemen | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -7 | 1 |
Uzbekistan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +9 | 9 |
Thailand | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +3 | 6 |
Maldives | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -6 | 3 |
Sri Lanka | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -6 | 0 |
India | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +7 | 9 |
Hong Kong | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
Afghanistan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
Cambodia | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 1 |
Bahrain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +4 | 9 |
Malaysia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | +4 | 6 |
Turkmenistan | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 3 |
Bangladesh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -6 | 0 |
Tajikistan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +5 | 7 |
Kyrgyz Republic | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +3 | 7 |
Singapore | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +2 | 3 |
Myanmar | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -10 | 0 |