#AFCU23 draw to set stage for Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers

Wed, 27 Aug, 2025

#AFCU23 draw to set stage for Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers

The 44 teams eyeing a place at the AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2026 will discover their qualifying journey on Thursday afternoon when the Qualifiers Draw takes place at 3pm.

The ceremony, to be held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, will sort the cast into 11 groups to do battle for the Qualifiers, which will take place between September 3 and 9, 2025.

Year in Review: AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Qatar 2024

Tue, 17 Dec, 2024

Year in Review: AFC U23 Asian Cup™ Qatar 2024

Kuala Lumpur: Japan became the first team to emerge two-time champions after lifting the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ title in May.

It was a well deserved triumph for Go Oiwa's side as they added the title to the one won in 2016 while runners-up Uzbekistan and third-placed Iraq joined them in qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

#AFCU23 - Facts & Figures

Sun, 05 May, 2024

#AFCU23 - Facts & Figures

Doha: The curtains came down on the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ with Japan edging Uzbekistan for the title in a closely contested final on Friday.

It was a fitting finale to a tournament that saw thrills and spills in equal measure so join the-AFC.com as we take a look at some key takeaways from the tournament.

Kokubo just one of Japan's heroes, says Oiwa

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Kokubo just one of Japan's heroes, says Oiwa

Doha: Go Oiwa said he had faith Leo Kokubo would save Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s injury time penalty before the Japan goalkeeper made the vital intervention that ensured his team reclaimed the AFC U23 Asian Cup™ title with a 1-0 victory over Uzbekistan in the Doha 2024 final on Friday.

Kokubo threw himself to his right to keep out Rakhmonaliev’s strike after Hiroki Sekine had been judged to have handled the ball in the penalty area deep into added time with the Japanese leading through Fuki Yamada’s fine finish.

Kapadze vows Uzbekistan will bounce back

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Kapadze vows Uzbekistan will bounce back

Doha: Despite creating more chances and seeing more of the ball, Uzbekistan suffered heartbreak on Friday in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ final as they went down 1-0 to a clinical Japan side.

Fuki Yamada’s sole goal in the first minute of added time, coupled with a Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s missed penalty, ended the 2018 winners’ hopes of adding a second title, which were high given their perfect record of five wins from five games in the tournament without conceding a single goal heading into this match. 
 
It was also a second loss in as many finals for Timur Kapadze, who was also at the helm when they lost to Saudi Arabia at the 2022 edition, and the 42-year-old head coach admitted that the failure hurt.

Fujita named MVP

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Fujita named MVP

Doha: Captain Joel Chima Fujita was named the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Most Valuable Player following Japan's 1-0 defeat of Uzbekistan in the final on Friday.

Fujita, 22, played a pivotal role as Japan became the first team to lift the coveted title a second time.

Iraq's Jasim takes Yili Top Scorer award

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Iraq's Jasim takes Yili Top Scorer award

Doha: Midfielder Ali Jasim won the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Yili Top Scorer award on Friday.

Jasim, 20, scored four goals and made two assists as Iraq qualified for the Paris Olympics.

Nematov wins Best Goalkeeper award

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Nematov wins Best Goalkeeper award

Doha: Uzbekistan's Abduvakhid Nematov was named as the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ Best Goalkeeper after a sterling campaign for the Central Asian side.

The 23-year-old custodian kept a clean sheet in four of the five matches he appeared in but suffered heartbreak in the final as Uzbekistan were beaten 1-0 by Japan on Friday. 

Japan edge Uzbekistan to lift second title

Sun, 05 May, 2024

Japan edge Uzbekistan to lift second title

Doha: Substitute Fuki Yamada struck in the 91st minute and Leo Kokubo made a late penalty save to earn Japan a 1-0 win over Uzbekistan on Friday that secured Go Oiwa’s side the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024™ title at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.

Yamada, introduced from the bench with 18 minutes remaining, struck into the bottom corner of Abduvakhid Nematov’s goal before Kokubo kept out Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s spot-kick nine minutes later to earn Japan their second AFC U23 Asian Cup title.
 
The dramatic finish came at the end of a tense encounter and it saw the Japanese win the title for the first time since 2016, when the Samurai Blue also lifted the trophy on Qatari soil.