The AFC Asian Cup 2023 will start on January 12 and conclude on February 10 in Qatar. 

Organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup will see 24 teams compete in a total of 51 matches to be played in nine venues.

Earlier, Qatar replaced China as the host of the upcoming quadrennial international football tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic and China's Zero-COVID policy. 

Originally scheduled to be held from June 16 to July 16, 2023, the tournament was postponed due to the high summer temperatures and Qatar's participation in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023. However, it retained the original name for both existing sponsorship and logistical purposes.

As per the format, the participating teams have been divided into six groups of four teams each.

Each team will play the other sides in their group once. The top two teams from each group along with the four best third-placed teams will advance to the knockout stage that comprises the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.

The AFC Asian Cup 2023 final will be played at the Lusail Stadium on February 10.

Qatar are the defending champions of the AFC Asian Cup after beating Japan 3-1 in the 2019 final.

Meanwhile, Japan are the most successful team in the AFC Asian Cup with four titles so far. Saudi Arabia and Iran have won the competition three times each.

The Indian football team will mark their fifth appearance in the AFC Asian Cup 2023. They previously qualified for the tournament in 1964, 1984, 2011 and 2019.

AFC Asian Cup 2023 groups and teams

Group A: Qatar, China, Tajikistan, Lebanon

Group B: Australia, Uzbekistan, India, Syria

Group C: Iran, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Palestine

Group D: Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam

Group E: South Korea, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain

Group F: Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Oman

Where to watch AFC Asian Cup 2023 live in India

The AFC Asian Cup 2023 matches will be telecast live on Sports18 Network’s TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 will be available on the JioCinema app and  website.

AFC Asian Cup 2023 schedule, venues and live match start times

All times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Day and Date

Match

Venue

Time (IST)

Friday, January 12

Qatar vs Lebanon

Lusail Stadium, Lusail

9:30 PM

Saturday, January 13

Australia vs India

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Saturday, January 13

China vs Tajikistan

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

8:00 PM

Saturday, January 13

Uzbekistan vs Syria

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan

11:00 PM

Sunday, January 14

Japan vs Vietnam

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

5:00 PM

Sunday, January 14

United Arab Emirates vs Hong Kong

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

8:00 PM

Sunday, January 14

Iran vs Palestine

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan

11:00 PM

Monday, January 15

South Korea vs Bahrain

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Monday, January 15

Indonesia vs Iraq

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

8:00 PM

Monday, January 15

Malaysia vs Jordan

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

11:00 PM

Tuesday, January 16

Thailand vs Kyrgyzstan

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

8:00 PM

Tuesday, January 16

Saudi Arabia vs Oman

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

11:00 PM

Wednesday, January 17

Lebanon vs China

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

5:00 PM

Wednesday, January 17

Tajikistan vs Qatar

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor

8:00 PM

Thursday, January 18

Syria vs Australia

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Thursday, January 18

India vs Uzbekistan

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

8:00 PM

Thursday, January 18

Palestine vs United Arab Emirates

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

11:00 PM

Friday, January 19

Iraq vs Japan

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Friday, January 19

Vietnam vs Indonesia

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

8:00 PM

Friday, January 19

Hong Kong vs Iran

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

11:00 PM

Saturday, January 20

Jordan vs South Korea

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

5:00 PM

Saturday, January 20

Bahrain vs Malaysia

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan

8:00 PM

Sunday, January 21

Oman vs Thailand

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

8:00 PM

Sunday, January 21

Kyrgyzstan vs Saudi Arabia

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

11:00 PM

Monday, January 22

Qatar vs China

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

8:30 PM

Monday, January 22

Tajikistan vs Lebanon

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan

8:30 PM

Tuesday, January 23

Australia vs Uzbekistan

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

5:00 PM

Tuesday, January 23

Syria vs India

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor

5:00 PM

Tuesday, January 23

Iran vs United Arab Emirates

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan

8:30 PM

Tuesday, January 23

Hong Kong vs Palestine

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

8:30 PM

Wednesday, January 24

Japan vs Indonesia

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

5:00 PM

Wednesday, January 24

Iraq vs Vietnam

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Thursday, January 25

South Korea vs Malaysia

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

5:00 PM

Thursday, January 25

Jordan vs Bahrain

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Thursday, January 25

Saudi Arabia vs Thailand

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan

8:30 PM

Thursday, January 25

Kyrgyzstan vs Oman

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

8:30 PM

Sunday, January 28

Round of 16, Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/C/D

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Sunday, January 28

Round of 16, Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group C

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

9:30 PM

Monday, January 29

Round of 16, Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Monday, January 29

Round of 16, Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/D/E

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor

9:30 PM

Tuesday, January 30

Round of 16, Runner-up Group B vs Runner-up Group F

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

5:00 PM

Tuesday, January 30

Round of 16, Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group E

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan

9:30 PM

Wednesday, January 31

Round of 16, Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group D

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

5:00 PM

Wednesday, January 31

Round of 16, Winner Group C vs 3rd Group A/B/F

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha

9:30 PM

Friday, February 2

Quarter-final 1

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Friday, February 2

Quarter-final 2

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah

9:00 PM

Saturday, February 3

Quarter-final 3

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan

5:00 PM

Saturday, February 3

Quarter-final 4

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor

9:00 PM

Tuesday, February 6

Semi-final 1

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

8:30 PM

Wednesday, February 7

Semi-final 2

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha

8:30 PM

Saturday, February 10

AFC Asian Cup 2023 final

Lusail Stadium, Lusail

8:30 PM

Photo credit: Alamy