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Asian Cup History

Question 1 of 25

Where was the first AFC Asian Cup held, in 1956?

Asian Cup History: answers and explanations (spoilers!)
  1. Where was the first AFC Asian Cup held, in 1956?

    Answer: Hong Kong

    The first Asian Cup was staged in Hong Kong in 1956. It is the second-oldest continental championship in the world, after the Copa América.

  2. Which nation won the first two Asian Cups, in 1956 and 1960?

    Answer: South Korea

    South Korea won in 1956 and 1960, and those remain their only two Asian Cup titles.

  3. Which country won three Asian Cups in a row, in 1968, 1972 and 1976?

    Answer: Iran

    Iran won three consecutive titles from 1968 to 1976, still the only hat-trick of Asian Cups.

  4. Kuwait won the 1980 Asian Cup on home soil.

    Answer: True

    True. Kuwait hosted and won the 1980 tournament, becoming the first Arab nation to lift the trophy.

  5. Saudi Arabia won back-to-back Asian Cups in 1984 and 1988. In which year did they win their third?

    Answer: 1996

    Saudi Arabia beat the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, on penalties in the 1996 final for their third title.

  6. Which nation has won the most Asian Cups?

    Answer: Japan

    Japan have four titles: 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011. Iran and Saudi Arabia have three each.

  7. Japan won their first Asian Cup on home soil. In which year?

    Answer: 1992

    Japan hosted the 1992 tournament and beat defending champions Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final.

  8. Who did Japan beat after extra time in the 2011 Asian Cup final in Qatar?

    Answer: Australia

    Japan beat Australia after extra time to win a record fourth Asian Cup.

  9. In which year did Australia play their first Asian Cup, after joining the AFC in 2006?

    Answer: 2007

    Australia left the Oceania Football Confederation in 2006 and made their Asian Cup debut in 2007.

  10. Who did Australia beat in the 2015 Asian Cup final?

    Answer: South Korea

    Australia beat South Korea 2-1 after extra time to win their first Asian Cup, as hosts.

  11. Which nation won the 2007 Asian Cup?

    Answer: Iraq

    Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final to win their first Asian Cup.

  12. How many countries co-hosted the 2007 Asian Cup?

    Answer: Four

    Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam co-hosted the 2007 tournament.

  13. Which nation won their first Asian Cup in 2019, beating Japan 3-1 in the final?

    Answer: Qatar

    Qatar beat Japan 3-1 to win their first Asian Cup.

  14. Who did Qatar beat in the 2023 Asian Cup final to retain their title?

    Answer: Jordan

    Qatar beat Jordan 3-1 in the final, played in February 2024, to win back-to-back titles.

  15. Video assistant referees (VAR) were first used at the Asian Cup in 2019.

    Answer: True

    True. VAR was introduced at the 2019 tournament in the UAE, from the quarter-finals onwards.

  16. The Asian Cup expanded to how many teams for the 2019 tournament?

    Answer: 24

    The 2019 tournament was the first with 24 teams, up from 16. The 2027 edition also has 24.

  17. Who is the Asian Cup's all-time top scorer, with 14 goals?

    Answer: Ali Daei

    Iran's Ali Daei scored 14 Asian Cup goals across the 1996, 2000 and 2004 tournaments.

  18. Which player scored nine goals at the 2019 Asian Cup?

    Answer: Almoez Ali

    Qatar's Almoez Ali scored nine goals in 2019, a record for a single Asian Cup.

  19. Japan's Yoshimi Yamashita became the first woman to referee a match at the Asian Cup in 2023.

    Answer: True

    True. Yoshimi Yamashita refereed Australia v India on 13 January 2024, the first woman to officiate at the tournament.

  20. Which country hosts the 2027 Asian Cup?

    Answer: Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Arabia host the Asian Cup for the first time, from 7 January to 5 February 2027.

  21. Who did Saudi Arabia beat on penalties in the 1996 final?

    Answer: United Arab Emirates

    Saudi Arabia beat the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, on penalties to win their third title.

  22. Who did Iraq beat in the 2007 Asian Cup final?

    Answer: Saudi Arabia

    Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 to win their first Asian Cup.

  23. Which Australian player was named Most Valuable Player at the 2015 Asian Cup?

    Answer: Massimo Luongo

    Midfielder Massimo Luongo was named MVP as Australia won the tournament on home soil.

  24. Which Qatar player was named Most Valuable Player and top scorer at the 2023 Asian Cup?

    Answer: Akram Afif

    Akram Afif won both awards as Qatar retained their title.

  25. How many matches are there at the 2027 Asian Cup?

    Answer: 51

    There are 51 matches: 36 in the group stage, then the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the Final.