Football · History

AFC Asian Cup winners: every champion and final since 1956

Last updated: 26 October 2026 · Next edition: Saudi Arabia, 7 January – 5 February 2027

Japan have won the AFC Asian Cup a record four times, and Qatar are the holders after winning in 2019 and 2023. Nine nations have lifted the trophy since the first tournament in 1956. The 19th edition is in Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February 2027.

Every final

YearWinnerScoreRunner-upHost
2023*Qatar3–1JordanQatar
2019Qatar3–1JapanUAE
2015Australia2–1 (aet)South KoreaAustralia
2011Japan1–0 (aet)AustraliaQatar
2007Iraq1–0Saudi ArabiaIndonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam
2004Japan3–1ChinaChina
2000Japan1–0Saudi ArabiaLebanon
1996Saudi Arabia0–0 (4–2 pens)UAEUAE
1992Japan1–0Saudi ArabiaJapan
1988Saudi Arabia0–0 (4–3 pens)South KoreaQatar
1984Saudi Arabia2–0ChinaSingapore
1980Kuwait3–0South KoreaKuwait
1976Iran1–0KuwaitIran
1972Iran2–1 (aet)South KoreaThailand
1968IranRound robinBurmaIran
1964IsraelRound robinIndiaIsrael
1960South KoreaRound robinIsraelSouth Korea
1956South KoreaRound robinIsraelHong Kong

*The 2023 Asian Cup was played in Qatar in January and February 2024. Tournaments up to 1968 were decided by a final round-robin.

Titles by country

TeamTitlesYears
Japan41992, 2000, 2004, 2011
Saudi Arabia31984, 1988, 1996
Iran31968, 1972, 1976
South Korea21956, 1960
Qatar22019, 2023
Israel11964
Kuwait11980
Iraq12007
Australia12015

Records

  • Most titles: Japan, 4
  • Only hat-trick of consecutive titles: Iran (1968, 1972, 1976)
  • Back-to-back champions: South Korea (1956, 1960), Iran (1968–1976), Japan (2000, 2004), Qatar (2019, 2023)
  • Most finals lost: South Korea and Saudi Arabia, three each

Source: AFC Asian Cup (Wikipedia).

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