Qatar won their first AFC Asian Cup title, defeating Japan 3–1 in the final of a newly expanded 24-team tournament held in the UAE.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 17th AFC Asian Cup
- Host nation
- United Arab Emirates
- Tournament dates
- 5 January – 1 February 2019
- Teams competing
- 24 (expanded from 16)
- Final score
- Qatar 3–1 Japan
- Qatar's achievement
- First ever Asian Cup title and first top-four finish
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The AFC expanded the Asian Cup from 16 to 24 teams for the first time, with the UAE awarded hosting rights. Qatar and 22 other nations qualified through a competition running from 2015 to 2018, which also doubled as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification process.
The 2019 AFC Asian Cup was held in the United Arab Emirates from 5 January to 1 February 2019. Twenty-four teams competed across six groups followed by a knockout stage. Qatar defeated Japan 3–1 in the final to claim their first ever Asian Cup title, while defending champions Australia were eliminated in the quarter-finals by hosts UAE.
Qatar's victory marked their first AFC Asian Cup triumph and first top-four finish, cementing their rise as a regional football power ahead of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The 2019 tournament also became the first of three consecutive Asian Cups held in the Middle East, preceding Qatar 2023 and Saudi Arabia 2027.