2023 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage

The knockout stage of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup will be the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It is scheduled to begin on 28 January with the round of 16 and end on 10 February with the final match, to be held at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail. A total of 16 teams (the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.^[1]

All times are local, AST (UTC+3).^[2]

Format

In the knockout stage, if a match is level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time will be played (two periods of 15 minutes each). If still tied after extra time, the match will be decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. This is the second time there is no third place play-off after the 2019 edition.

The AFC set out the following schedule for the round of 16:^[1]

• R16-1: Runners-up Group A v Runners-up Group C
• R16-2: Winners Group D v 3rd Group B/E/F
• R16-3: Winners Group B v 3rd Group A/C/D
• R16-4: Winners Group F v Runners-up Group E
• R16-5: Winners Group C v 3rd Group A/B/F
• R16-6: Winners Group E v Runners-up Group D
• R16-7: Winners Group A v 3rd Group C/D/E
• R16-8: Runners-up Group B v Runners-up Group F

Combinations of matches in the round of 16

The specific match-ups involving the third-placed teams depended on which four third-placed teams qualified for the round of 16:

Qualified teams

The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.

Group	Winners	Runners-up	Third-placed teams (Best four qualify)
A	Qatar	Tajikistan	—
B	Australia	Uzbekistan	Syria
C	Iran	United Arab Emirates	Palestine
D	Iraq	Japan	Indonesia
E	Bahrain	South Korea	Jordan
F	Saudi Arabia	Thailand	—

The following teams will make their debut in the knockout stage:

• Indonesia
• Palestine
• Syria
• Tajikistan

Bracket

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

28 January – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali)

Tajikistan

2 February – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali)

United Arab Emirates

29 January – Al Rayyan (Khalifa)

Iraq

6 February – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali)

Jordan

28 January – Al Rayyan (Jassim bin Hamad)

Australia

2 February – Al Wakrah

Indonesia

30 January – Al Rayyan (Education)

Saudi Arabia

10 February – Lusail

South Korea

31 January – Doha (Abdullah bin Khalifa)

Iran

3 February – Al Rayyan (Education)

Syria

31 January – Doha (Al Thumama)

Bahrain

7 February – Doha (Al Thumama)

Japan

29 January – Al Khor

Qatar

3 February – Al Khor

Palestine

30 January – Al Wakrah

Uzbekistan

Thailand

All times are local, AST (UTC+3).

Round of 16

Australia vs Indonesia

This marked for the first time Australia and Indonesia will face each other at the Asian Cup, having last met each other back in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, which Australia triumphed. It's also the first time Australia will face a fellow AFF member in the same competition since becoming AFF member in 2013. It will be also the first time since 2007 (won 4–0 Thailand) that Australia will face a Southeast Asian opponent.

28 January 2024 (2024-01-28)

14:30

Australia	Match 37	Indonesia
	Report

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan

Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)

Tajikistan vs United Arab Emirates

This will be their first ever competitive meeting in the history, having met just twice, all friendlies, which the United Arab Emirates won one and drew one.

28 January 2024 (2024-01-28)

19:00

Tajikistan	Match 38	United Arab Emirates
	Report

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)

Iraq vs Jordan

This will be the two neighbouring rivals' second AFC Asian Cup meeting in their history, with their only encounter dated back in 2015 and also their most recent competitive encounter, which Iraq triumphed in a hard-fought match.

29 January 2024 (2024-01-29)

14:30

Iraq	Match 39	Jordan
	Report

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

Referee: Alireza Faghani (Australia)

Qatar vs Palestine

This will be the first time ever the two countries to face each other in an Asian Cup finals, with their most recent competitive fixtures happened during the 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification, which Qatar got the better with a win and a draw.

29 January 2024 (2024-01-29)

19:00

Qatar	Match 40	Palestine
	Report

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor

Referee: Ma Ning (China)

Uzbekistan vs Thailand

This is the first ever meeting in an Asian Cup finals between Uzbekistan and Thailand. In their most recent competitive meeting, which happened in the earlier 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Uzbekistan claimed the win.

30 January 2024 (2024-01-30)

14:30

Uzbekistan	Match 41	Thailand
	Report

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

Saudi Arabia vs South Korea

It will be their first meeting at the Asian Cup since 2007, when both teams were held to a 1–1 draw. In personal records, this will mark the first time Roberto Mancini and Jürgen Klinsmann to face each other as coaches in a competitive tournament, having met each others as players back in the UEFA Euro 1988, which also ended with West Germany and Italy held to a 1–1 draw, in which Mancini scored the opening goal in the match.

30 January 2024 (2024-01-30)

19:00

Saudi Arabia	Match 42	South Korea

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan

Bahrain vs Japan

The two will meet each other for the first time in any AFC Asian Cup since 2004, where Japan won in a thrilling encounter. In term of other competitive fixtures, this will be the first time since the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, each claimed a win, that they meet each other.

31 January 2024 (2024-01-31)

14:30

Bahrain	Match 43	Japan
	Report

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

Iran vs Syria

This will be the two teams' first ever Asian Cup encounter in 44 years, with Iran held to a goalless draw in Syria's debut at the Asian Cup. However, they had met in the most competitive fixtures during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, which Iran won 4–0 on aggregate.

31 January 2024 (2024-01-31)

19:00

Iran	Match 44	Syria
	Report

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

Quarter-finals

Winner Match 38 vs Winner Match 39

Winner Match 37 vs Winner Match 42

Winner Match 44 vs Winner Match 43

Winner Match 40 vs Winner Match 41

Semi-finals

Winner Match 45 vs Winner Match 46

Winner Match 47 vs Winner Match 48

Final

The match was originally scheduled to take place at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. However, the AFC confirmed in 21 August 2023 that the match would be moved to Lusail Stadium, Lusail, due to significant interest for fans.^[3]

References