HISTORY OF THE ASIAN CUP OF NATIONS
The history of the AFC Asian Cup
The AFC Asian Cup is the premier international football tournament for national teams in Asia, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It is the oldest continental football championship, first held in 1956, and is equivalent to other major continental tournaments like the UEFA European Championship and Copa América.
1. Origins and Early Years (1956-1970)
The first-ever AFC Asian Cup was held in 1956 in Hong Kong, featuring just four teams: South Korea, Israel, Hong Kong, and South Vietnam.
South Korea won the inaugural tournament.
The early editions had only a handful of participants, mostly from East and West Asia, due to the limited number of football associations at the time.
2. Expansion and Growing Dominance (1972-1992)
By 1972, the tournament expanded, and Iran emerged as a dominant force, winning three consecutive titles (1968, 1972, and 1976).
The competition became more structured with group stages introduced in 1972.
In 1984, Saudi Arabia won their first title and went on to become a major powerhouse.
Japan made their mark in 1992, winning their first title.
3. The Professional Era and Wider Participation (1996-2011)
The tournament expanded to 12 teams in 1992 and 16 teams in 1996, allowing more teams to participate.
Japan (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011) dominated this period, winning four titles.
South Korea and Saudi Arabia remained strong, frequently reaching the finals.
Iraq won a historic title in 2007, marking one of the most emotional victories, as the team united a war-torn nation.
4. Modern Era and Continued Growth (2015-Present)
In 2015, Australia, which had joined the AFC in 2006, hosted and won their first Asian Cup.
The 2019 edition was expanded to 24 teams, giving more nations the opportunity to compete.
Qatar won the 2019 Asian Cup, surprising many by defeating Japan in the final.
The 2023 AFC Asian Cup was originally set to be hosted by China but was later moved to Qatar.
5. List of AFC Asian Cup Winners
Year Host Country Winner
1956 Hong Kong South Korea
1960 South Korea South Korea
1964 Israel Israel
1968 Iran Iran
1972 Thailand Iran
1976 Iran Iran
1980 Kuwait Kuwait
1984 Singapore Saudi Arabia
1988 Qatar Saudi Arabia
1992 Japan Japan
1996 UAE Saudi Arabia
2000 Lebanon Japan
2004 China Japan
2007 Multiple Hosts (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam) Iraq
2011 Qatar Japan
2015 Australia Australia
2019 UAE Qatar
2023 Qatar TBD
6. Significance of the AFC Asian Cup
The Asian Cup has grown into one of the most prestigious football tournaments in the world.
Winning the AFC Asian Cup provides qualification for the FIFA Confederations Cup (until it was discontinued in 2019).
The competition has helped raise the profile of Asian football and develop some of the world’s best players.