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AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Broadcast Rights
Where to watch AFC U-23 Asian Cup
In the United States, you can watch AFC U-23 Asian Cup live on CBS Sports.
About AFC U-23 Asian Cup
History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage
The AFC U-23 Asian Cup, known as the AFC U-23 Championship from 2016 to 2020, is a continental football competition for the under-23 men’s Asian national teams. Administered by the Asian Football Confederation, this tournament was founded in 2013 as the AFC U-22 Championship. However, the age limit was increased by a year and the name changed to the “AFC U-23 Championship” by the second edition before ultimately rebranding to its current name in 2021.
Initially a biennial event, the AFC announced in May 2024 the decision to switch this competition into a quadrennial event in 2028. The tournament is held during the first six months of the calendar year, typically in January, though this may vary.
A total of 16 teams compete, with all countries except the host nation required to qualify through a tournament — the hosts receive automatic qualification. The AFC U-23 Asian Cup participants are divided into four groups of four, with each side playing every other nation in its group in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage.
The knockout stage includes the quarterfinals, semifinals, a third-place playoff, and the final, all following a single-elimination format. The AFC U-23 Asian Cup also serves as the qualifying tournament for the Summer Olympics, with the top three teams (champion, runner-up, and third-place playoff winner) earning spots. The third-place playoff loser enters a single-leg AFC-CAF playoff.
Oman hosted the inaugural edition in 2013, which was postponed to January 2014 due to the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup. Iraq won the first tournament, defeating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final. Saudi Arabia claimed their first title in 2022, while Japan became the first nation to win multiple titles, securing victories in 2016 and 2024.
