Asian Cup 2023: Dates, Groups, Odds, Fixtures, How to Watch | OneFootball

The 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar is set to kick off on January 12, with the grand final scheduled for February 10 at the renowned Lusail Stadium.

The tournament promises to be a captivating showpiece event, joining the array of footballing spectacles set to unfold this year.

Originally planned to be hosted in China, the 2023 Asian Cup was postponed due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upcoming competition will see 24 nations vying for the coveted title, with Tajikistan making their debut appearance on the prestigious stage.

Japan are overwhelming favourites to win the competition, but their shock 3-1 defeat to Qatar in the previous edition adds an element of unpredictability to the proceedings.

Qatar would be determined to capitalise on their home advantage to defend the crown, but they will battle formidable competitors such as South Korea and Australia.

The magic of the cup could also open the door for an unlikely underdog to snatch the spotlight, adding an extra layer of excitement to the highly anticipated competition.

Read on as we provide you with a comprehensive guide to the 2023 Asian Cup tournament.

Asian Cup Host

The 2023 Asian Cup will be the 18th edition of the tournament, and 2019 champions Qatar will host the latest instalment after replacing original hosts China.

Lusail Stadium will host the opening fixture on Friday and will also form the backdrop for the tournament’s showpiece final on February 10.

Asian Cup 2023 Schedule

The 24 teams have been divided into six groups, and the knockout stage will feature the top two teams from each group, along with the four best-ranked third-placed teams.

Hosts Qatar will kick off the tournament, taking on Lebanon at Lusail Stadium on January 12.

The draw and opening phase schedule is as follows:

Group A: Qatar, China, Tajikistan, Lebanon.

Group B: Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria, India.

Group C: Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong, Palestine.

Group D: Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam.

Group E: Korea, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain.

Group F: Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyz Republic, Oman.

Asian Cup 2023 – Knockout Stage

Asian Cup 2023 odds

Record Asian Cup winners Japan have emerged as the favourites for the upcoming edition, having won the competition four times since the inaugural instalment in 1956.

Their last success in the competition came in 2011, but they reached the 2019 final, succumbing to a 3-1 defeat to this year’s host nation, Qatar.

They are heavily fancied to go all the way this year, but South Korea and Australia have also been tipped to put up a fight for the highly coveted crown.

Asian Cup 2023 Predictions

Japan will storm Qatar with a star-studded squad that includes Premier League stars Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kaoru Mitoma, who are poised to light up the tournament.

With other prominent names like Takefusa Kubo, Takumi Minamino, Junya Ito, and Ritsu Doan in the squad, Japan will fancy their chances of steamrolling to a record five Asian Cup titles this year.

Hajime Moriyasu’s side are on a remarkable run of form, winning their last ten consecutive fixtures, netting 4+ goals all but once in that span – a 2-0 friendly win over Tunisia.

The Japanese are heads and shoulders above their competitors, but South Korea are also a team to watch, with Tottenham Hotspur star Heung-min Son hoping to lead his country to glory.

Asian Cup 2023 Live Streaming

Viewers in the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland can catch every game in Qatar on TrillerTV+.

Multiple live football streaming platforms are also available to supporters, providing real-time access to the tournament regardless of your geographical location.