# 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup
The 2024 [AFC U-23 Asian Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-u-23-asian-cup) was the sixth edition of the Asian Football Confederation's under-23 men's national-team championship, played in Qatar from 15 April to 3 May 2024 and doubling as Asia's qualifier for the men's football tournament at the 2024 Paris Olympics.[1](https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/about-qatar/sport/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup) Japan won the title, beating [Uzbekistan](https://www.edgepedia.org/uzbekistan) 1–0 in the final at Doha's Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on 3 May, with Fuki Yamada scoring in the 90+1st minute and goalkeeper Leo Kokubo saving an injury-time penalty.[2](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u23-2024.html) • [3](https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/kokubos-injury-time-penalty-save-secures-title-japan-2024-05-03/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Edition and dates | Sixth edition, held in Qatar from 15 April to 3 May 2024, the country's second time as host[1](https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/about-qatar/sport/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup) |
| Format | 16 teams in four groups of four, followed by a knockout stage[4](https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/tournament-regulations/AFC-U23-Asian-Cup-2024-Competition-Regulations.pdf) |
| Age rule | Players born on or after 1 January 2001; the regulations contain no overage or marquee-player provision[4](https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/tournament-regulations/AFC-U23-Asian-Cup-2024-Competition-Regulations.pdf) |
| Champion | Japan, 1–0 over Uzbekistan in the final (Yamada 90+1); Japan's second title after 2016[2](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u23-2024.html) • [5](https://www.jfa.jp/eng/national_team/u23_2024/afc_u23_asiancup_2024/news/00033904/) |
| Olympic berths | Japan, Uzbekistan and Iraq qualified directly for Paris 2024; fourth-placed Indonesia went to a play-off against Guinea[3](https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/kokubos-injury-time-penalty-save-secures-title-japan-2024-05-03/) |
| Individual awards | MVP Joel Chima Fujita (Japan); top scorer Ali Jasim (Iraq, 4 goals); best goalkeeper Abduvakhid Nematov (Uzbekistan)[6](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/iraqs_jasim_takes_yili_top_scorer_award.html) • [1](https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/about-qatar/sport/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup) |
| Tournament totals | 84 goals in 32 matches (2.63 per match), 130 yellow cards and 13 red cards[7](https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/competition/overall/18353-afc_u23_asian_cup/2024) |
## Host selection and venues
Qatar was selected as host by the AFC Competitions Committee at its fifth meeting in [Kuala Lumpur](https://www.edgepedia.org/kuala-lumpur), chosen from five bidders that also included Iran, Saudi Arabia, the [United Arab Emirates](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-arab-emirates), and Uzbekistan. The decision came ahead of the 2022 [FIFA World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-world-cup), which Qatar was due to host that November.[8](https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/committees/news/qatar_recommended_as_host_for_the_afc_u23_asian_cup_2024%E2%84%A2_1.html) The 2024 tournament was Qatar's second time staging the competition, and four stadiums across the country were used.[1](https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/about-qatar/sport/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup) Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Rayyan hosted the final, and Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha hosted the third-place match.[2](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u23-2024.html) • [9](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup-full-schedule-all-results-scores-and-standings-complete-list)
## Format, eligibility and draw
The finals competition consisted of a group stage and a knockout stage, with the group stage comprising 16 teams drawn into four groups of four, each group played in a centralized league format.[4](https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/tournament-regulations/AFC-U23-Asian-Cup-2024-Competition-Regulations.pdf) Players were required to be born on or after 1 January 2001 and eligible under the FIFA Statutes; the competition regulations contain no overage or marquee-player provision. Squad delegations comprised between 18 and 23 players and up to 12 officials.[4](https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/tournament-regulations/AFC-U23-Asian-Cup-2024-Competition-Regulations.pdf)
The final draw in Doha placed hosts Qatar with Australia, Jordan, and debutants Indonesia in [Group A](https://www.edgepedia.org/group-a), while [Group B](https://www.edgepedia.org/group-b) held Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and China.[10](https://www.qfa.qa/en/news/hosts-qatar-drawn-with-australia-jordan-for-afc-u-23-asian-cup)
## Group stage
**Uzbekistan's perfect group.** Uzbekistan topped Group D with three wins from three, scoring 10 goals and conceding none.[9](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup-full-schedule-all-results-scores-and-standings-complete-list) They carried that defensive record into the knockout rounds, entering the final with five wins from five games without conceding a single goal.[11](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/afcu23_-_facts__figures_.html)
**Australia's goalless exit.** In Group A, Qatar finished first on 7 points, with Indonesia advancing to the knockout stage as a debutant.[9](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup-full-schedule-all-results-scores-and-standings-complete-list) • [10](https://www.qfa.qa/en/news/hosts-qatar-drawn-with-australia-jordan-for-afc-u-23-asian-cup)
## Knockout stage and final
In the quarter-finals on 25 April, Japan beat hosts Qatar 4–2 after extra time, and Indonesia eliminated South Korea 2–2, 11–10 on penalties.[2](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u23-2024.html) In the semi-finals, Uzbekistan beat Indonesia, with the win securing the country's first-ever Olympic qualification.[12](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/decisive_jasim_sends_iraq_to_paris.html)
The third-place match on 2 May saw Iraq come back to beat Indonesia 2–1 after extra time: Ivar Jenner put Indonesia ahead in the 19th minute, Zaid Tahseen equalized in the 27th, and Ali Jasim scored the winner in the 96th minute at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.[9](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup-full-schedule-all-results-scores-and-standings-complete-list) • [12](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/decisive_jasim_sends_iraq_to_paris.html)
**The final.** In the 3 May final at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Yamada's goal in the 90+1st minute gave Japan a 1–0 lead, and Kokubo saved Umarali Rakhmonaliev's injury-time penalty to secure the title for coach Go Oiwa's side.[11](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/afcu23_-_facts__figures_.html) • [3](https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/kokubos-injury-time-penalty-save-secures-title-japan-2024-05-03/) • [5](https://www.jfa.jp/eng/national_team/u23_2024/afc_u23_asiancup_2024/news/00033904/) It was Japan's second U-23 Asian Cup title, after their first in 2016, making them the first team to win the competition twice.[5](https://www.jfa.jp/eng/national_team/u23_2024/afc_u23_asiancup_2024/news/00033904/) • [6](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/iraqs_jasim_takes_yili_top_scorer_award.html)
## Olympic qualification
The tournament determined Asia's representatives at the Paris 2024 men's football competition. The top three teams qualified directly, and the fourth-placed side faced Guinea, the best-performing runner-up at the U23 Africa Cup of Nations, in a play-off on 9 May for a possible fourth Asian team.[10](https://www.qfa.qa/en/news/hosts-qatar-drawn-with-australia-jordan-for-afc-u-23-asian-cup) • [13](https://oca.asia/news/4926-afc-u23-asian-cup-to-provide-three-places-at-paris-2024) • [9](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup-full-schedule-all-results-scores-and-standings-complete-list) Japan and Uzbekistan had already claimed two berths before the final, and Iraq took the third with its extra-time win over Indonesia.[3](https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/kokubos-injury-time-penalty-save-secures-title-japan-2024-05-03/) For Uzbekistan, the semi-final victory over Indonesia secured the country's first-ever Olympic qualification in football.[12](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/decisive_jasim_sends_iraq_to_paris.html)
## Awards and standout players
Iraq's Ali Jasim, aged 20, won the Yili Top Scorer award with four goals and two assists as Iraq qualified for the Olympics.[6](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/iraqs_jasim_takes_yili_top_scorer_award.html) Japan captain Joel Chima Fujita, 22, was named Most Valuable Player.[6](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/iraqs_jasim_takes_yili_top_scorer_award.html) Uzbekistan's Abduvakhid Nematov was named best goalkeeper of the tournament.[1](https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/about-qatar/sport/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup) Under the competition regulations, the AFC presented MVP, Top Goal Scorer, Best Goalkeeper, and Fair Play awards, and awarded 43 medals each to the champion, runner-up and third-placed team.[4](https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/tournament-regulations/AFC-U23-Asian-Cup-2024-Competition-Regulations.pdf)
## By the numbers
The 32 matches of the tournament produced 84 goals, an average of 2.63 per match, along with 130 yellow cards and 13 red cards. A total of 371 players took part, with an average age of 21.91 years.[7](https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/competition/overall/18353-afc_u23_asian_cup/2024) Jasim's four goals included three penalties, scored in 529 minutes of play, and the busiest scoring interval was the 31–45+ minute band, which produced 23 of the tournament's goals.[7](https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/competition/overall/18353-afc_u23_asian_cup/2024) Uzbekistan's run to the final without conceding a goal in five matches was the tournament's most notable defensive record.[11](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/afcu23_-_facts__figures_.html)
## Comparison with previous editions and what came next
The competition began as a biennial event, and Iraq, Japan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia won its first five editions.[10](https://www.qfa.qa/en/news/hosts-qatar-drawn-with-australia-jordan-for-afc-u-23-asian-cup) Saudi Arabia, the 2022 champion, had been runner-up in 2013 and 2020 before winning the trophy in 2022.[13](https://oca.asia/news/4926-afc-u23-asian-cup-to-provide-three-places-at-paris-2024) Uzbekistan's 2024 final appearance was its second consecutive final loss under coach Timur Kapadze, who was also at the helm for the 2022 defeat to Saudi Arabia; Uzbekistan had earlier beaten Japan 4–0 in the 2018 quarter-finals and 2–0 in the 2022 semi-finals, making the 2024 result a reversal.[11](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/afcu23_-_facts__figures_.html) • [12](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/decisive_jasim_sends_iraq_to_paris.html)
The 2024 edition also marked a competitive shift: Japan became the first team to win the title twice, after the first five editions had been won by Iraq, Japan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.[6](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/iraqs_jasim_takes_yili_top_scorer_award.html) • [10](https://www.qfa.qa/en/news/hosts-qatar-drawn-with-australia-jordan-for-afc-u-23-asian-cup)
After the tournament, the AFC Competitions Committee agreed on 26 May 2024 to organize the competition quadrennially from 2028 and to discontinue the non-Olympic-qualifier editions from 2030, aligning the U23 Asian Cup with the Olympic cycle.[14](https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/key-decisions-by-afc-competitions-committee/)
## References
1. [2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup – Recap, Visit Qatar](https://visitqatar.com/intl-en/about-qatar/sport/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup)
2. [Asian U-23 Championship 2024, RSSSF](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-u23-2024.html)
3. [Kokubo's injury time penalty save secures title for Japan, Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/kokubos-injury-time-penalty-save-secures-title-japan-2024-05-03/)
4. [AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024 Competition Regulations, AFC](https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/tournament-regulations/AFC-U23-Asian-Cup-2024-Competition-Regulations.pdf)
5. [Match Report: U-23 Japan National Team overcame stiff competition to reach the summit, JFA](https://www.jfa.jp/eng/national_team/u23_2024/afc_u23_asiancup_2024/news/00033904/)
6. [AFC U23 Asian Cup: Iraq's Jasim takes Yili Top Scorer award, the-AFC.com](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/iraqs_jasim_takes_yili_top_scorer_award.html)
7. [AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024: Results, rankings and all statistics, Football Database](https://www.footballdatabase.eu/en/competition/overall/18353-afc_u23_asian_cup/2024)
8. [Qatar recommended as host for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024, the-AFC.com](https://www.the-afc.com/en/about_afc/committees/news/qatar_recommended_as_host_for_the_afc_u23_asian_cup_2024%E2%84%A2_1.html)
9. [2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup: Full schedule, all results, scores and standings, Olympics.com](https://www.olympics.com/en/news/2024-afc-u23-asian-cup-full-schedule-all-results-scores-and-standings-complete-list)
10. [Hosts Qatar drawn with Australia & Jordan for AFC U-23 Asian Cup, QFA](https://www.qfa.qa/en/news/hosts-qatar-drawn-with-australia-jordan-for-afc-u-23-asian-cup)
11. [AFC U23 Asian Cup: Facts & Figures, the-AFC.com](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/afcu23_-_facts__figures_.html)
12. [AFC U23 Asian Cup: Decisive Jasim sends Iraq to Paris, the-AFC.com](https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup/news/decisive_jasim_sends_iraq_to_paris.html)
13. [AFC U23 Asian Cup to provide three places at Paris 2024, Olympic Council of Asia](https://oca.asia/news/4926-afc-u23-asian-cup-to-provide-three-places-at-paris-2024)
14. [Key decisions by AFC Competitions Committee, AFF](https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/key-decisions-by-afc-competitions-committee/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Competitions and recurring events › International competitions beyond FIFA and UEFA › Confederation national-team championships › Confederation youth national-team championships*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license