The AFC Asian Cup is the oldest national team competition in Asian football. It is also the second oldest continental championship in the world, behind only South America’s Copa America. It has crowned the champion of Asia every four years since 1956.
In that time it has grown from a small four team event into a 24 nation tournament followed across the globe. This guide covers the full history: every champion, the complete title count by nation, the players and records that stand out, and where the tournament goes next.
First published in 2019. Last reviewed after the 2023 AFC Asian Cup (played in January and February 2024).
Latest update (2023 edition): Qatar kept the trophy with a 3-1 win over Jordan, who reached their first ever final. The winners table, the title counts and the records below all now include that tournament.
Quick Answer: Who Has Won the Most Asian Cups?
Japan is the most successful team in Asian Cup history with four titles, won in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011.
Iran and Saudi Arabia follow with three each. South Korea and Qatar have two apiece. In total, only nine nations have ever been crowned champions of Asia.
Every AFC Asian Cup Winner
The table below lists every edition, the host, the champions, the runners up and the final score. The first four tournaments were decided by a final group rather than a one off final, so no score is shown for those years.
| Year | Host | Champions | Runners-up | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Hong Kong | South Korea | Israel | Final group |
| 1960 | South Korea | South Korea | Israel | Final group |
| 1964 | Israel | Israel | India | Final group |
| 1968 | Iran | Iran | Burma | Final group |
| 1972 | Thailand | Iran | South Korea | 2-1 (a.e.t.) |
| 1976 | Iran | Iran | Kuwait | 1-0 |
| 1980 | Kuwait | Kuwait | South Korea | 3-0 |
| 1984 | Singapore | Saudi Arabia | China | 2-0 |
| 1988 | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | South Korea | 0-0 (pens) |
| 1992 | Japan | Japan | Saudi Arabia | 1-0 |
| 1996 | UAE | Saudi Arabia | UAE | 0-0 (pens) |
| 2000 | Lebanon | Japan | Saudi Arabia | 1-0 |
| 2004 | China | Japan | China | 3-1 |
| 2007 | Southeast Asia | Iraq | Saudi Arabia | 1-0 |
| 2011 | Qatar | Japan | Australia | 1-0 |
| 2015 | Australia | Australia | South Korea | 2-1 (a.e.t.) |
| 2019 | UAE | Qatar | Japan | 3-1 |
| 2023 | Qatar | Qatar | Jordan | 3-1 |
A couple of notes on the table. The 2023 edition was held in early 2024 but keeps its official 2023 name. The 2007 tournament was shared by four host countries in Southeast Asia.
Titles by Nation
| Titles | Nation | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Japan | 1992, 2000, 2004, 2011 |
| 3 | Saudi Arabia | 1984, 1988, 1996 |
| 3 | Iran | 1968, 1972, 1976 |
| 2 | South Korea | 1956, 1960 |
| 2 | Qatar | 2019, 2023 |
| 1 | Israel | 1964 |
| 1 | Kuwait | 1980 |
| 1 | Australia | 2015 |
| 1 | Iraq | 2007 |
South Korea are the great puzzle of the record books. They won the first two editions in 1956 and 1960, then reached four more finals without ever lifting the trophy again.
Israel won in 1964 as an Asian member, years before they moved over to European football.
The Story of the Asian Cup, Era by Era
The Early Years, 1956 to 1968
The first tournament took place in Hong Kong in 1956 with only four teams in a single group. South Korea took the title and then defended it at home in 1960.
Israel won as hosts in 1964, and Iran began its rise in 1968. There was no knockout final in this period. The team that topped the final group was simply named champion.
Iran’s Golden Run, 1968 to 1976
No side has ever ruled the Asian Cup the way Iran did in this spell. They won three tournaments in a row, still the only hat trick of titles in the competition’s history.
The 1976 win came in front of a huge home crowd in Tehran. This is the mark Qatar are chasing today.
The Gulf Rises, 1980 to 1988
Power moved to the Gulf in the 1980s. Kuwait won at home in 1980.
Saudi Arabia then took back to back titles in 1984 and 1988, the second on penalties. It was the start of a run that saw them reach six of seven finals across two decades.
The Japan Era, 1990s and 2000s
Japan changed the shape of Asian football. They won their first title at home in 1992, then added three more in 2000, 2004 and 2011 to become the most decorated nation.
Their rise matched the growth of the J League and a wave of players moving to Europe. It turned the tournament into a real shop window for scouts.
Iraq’s Fairytale, 2007
The 2007 tournament gave the competition its most moving champion. With conflict at home, a united Iraq squad won the title by beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in Jakarta, captain Younis Mahmoud heading the winner.
It is still one of the great underdog stories in world football.
Australia Arrive and Win, 2015
Australia joined the AFC in 2006 and rose fast. After losing the 2011 final, they went one better at home in 2015, beating South Korea after extra time in Sydney for their first Asian title.
Qatar’s Back to Back Titles, 2019 and 2023
Qatar turned themselves from outsiders into champions. Their 2019 win was a breakthrough, built on the goals of Almoez Ali.
Four years later they kept the trophy at home, beating first time finalists Jordan 3-1, with Akram Afif scoring three penalties in the final. Qatar are now the two time defending champions.
Records and Statistics
All Time Top Scorers
| Rank | Player | Nation | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ali Daei | Iran | 14 |
| 2 | Almoez Ali | Qatar | 11 |
| 3 | Lee Dong-gook | South Korea | 10 |
| 4 | Naohiro Takahara | Japan | 9 |
| 4 | Ali Mabkhout | UAE | 9 |
| 4 | Akram Afif | Qatar | 9 |
Iran’s Ali Daei is the all time leading scorer with 14 goals. He was also the world record men’s international scorer for nearly twenty years, until Cristiano Ronaldo passed him.
Qatar’s Almoez Ali is the leading active scorer and still has years ahead of him to chase that mark.
Most Goals in One Tournament
Almoez Ali set the single edition record with nine goals in 2019. Ali Daei’s eight in 1996 is the next best.
Other Records to Know
The fastest goal belongs to Ali Mabkhout of the UAE, who scored 14 seconds into a match in 2015.
Four goals in a single game has happened five times, most recently by Almoez Ali in 2019.
There have been 19 hat tricks through the 2023 edition, with Iran’s players scoring the most. The first came from Hossein Kalani back in 1972.
How the Format Has Changed
The tournament has grown in step with the game across Asia.
It began with four teams in a round robin from 1956 to 1968. Knockout finals arrived through the 1970s and 1980s.
From 1996 to 2015 it settled at 16 teams. Since 2019 it has featured 24 teams, with six groups of four feeding a 16 team knockout round.
The Next Edition
<!– UPDATE EACH EDITION: replace the host, dates and questions below with the next tournament. –>
The 19th edition is hosted by Saudi Arabia from 7 January to 5 February 2027, the first time the Kingdom has staged it. Twenty four teams play across eight stadiums in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar, with the final in Riyadh.
The main questions are simple. Can Qatar win a third straight title to match Iran? Can hosts Saudi Arabia end their wait since 1996? And can Japan take back a trophy they last held in 2011?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won the most AFC Asian Cups? Japan, with four titles.
Who won the first Asian Cup? South Korea, at the 1956 tournament in Hong Kong.
Who is the current Asian Cup champion? Qatar, who won the 2023 edition by beating Jordan 3-1.
Has India ever won the Asian Cup? No. India’s best finish was runner up in 1964.
Who is the all time top scorer? Ali Daei of Iran, with 14 goals.
How often is the Asian Cup held? Every four years.
This is a living reference and is refreshed after each edition. Figures are current as of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
