Japan won the 13th AFC Asian Cup, held in China, with the final marred by post-match rioting from Chinese fans in Beijing.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 13th AFC Asian Cup
- Host country
- China
- Tournament dates
- 17 July – 7 August 2004
- Winner
- Japan
- Runner-up
- China
- Fourth place
- Bahrain (surprise finisher)
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The AFC Asian Cup is a quadrennial competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation. China was awarded hosting rights for the 2004 edition, bringing heightened domestic expectations and nationalist sentiment, while existing historical tensions between China and Japan added political undercurrents to the tournament.
Held from 17 July to 7 August 2004 across China, the tournament featured notable upsets including Saudi Arabia's group-stage elimination and Bahrain's fourth-place finish. Defending champions Japan defeated host nation China in the final in Beijing, with Jordan and Indonesia also recording significant first-time achievements during the competition.
Following Japan's victory in the final at Beijing Workers' Stadium, Chinese fans rioted near the stadium's north gate, driven by disputed refereeing decisions and anti-Japanese sentiment rooted in historical grievances. The incident drew international attention to the intersection of sport and geopolitical tensions between China and Japan.