Australia won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, becoming the first men's team to claim titles in two different continental confederations.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 16th AFC Asian Cup
- Host country
- Australia (first time outside Asia)
- Final score
- Australia 2–1 South Korea (AET)
- Dates
- 9–31 January 2015
- Teams in qualification
- 44
- Stadiums used
- 5 stadiums across 5 cities
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Australia, having joined the Asian Football Confederation from the OFC in 2006, was selected as the sole bidder to host the 2015 AFC Asian Cup on 5 January 2011. A qualification process involving 44 teams ran from February 2013 to March 2014 to determine the 16-team final tournament field.
The 16th AFC Asian Cup was held across five Australian cities from 9 to 31 January 2015. Sixteen national teams competed through a group stage and knockout rounds. Australia defeated South Korea 2–1 in extra time in the final, with Japan, the defending champions, knocked out in the quarter-finals by the United Arab Emirates on penalties.
Australia's victory earned the nation a place in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia and made it the first men's team to become champions of two confederations. Australia also became the permanent holder of the old AFC Asian Cup trophy, as a new trophy was introduced for the 2019 edition. The 2015 tournament was the last to feature a third-place match.