The knockout stage of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 28 January with the round of 16 and ended on 10 February with the final match, held at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail. A total of 16 teams (the top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament.
Format
In the knockout stage, if a match is level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each). If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winner. This is the second time there was no third place play-off since the 2019 edition.
The AFC set out the following schedule for the round of 16:
- R16-1: Runners-up Group A v Runners-up Group C
- R16-2: Winners Group D v 3rd Group B/E/F
- R16-3: Winners Group B v 3rd Group A/C/D
- R16-4: Winners Group F v Runners-up Group E
- R16-5: Winners Group C v 3rd Group A/B/F
- R16-6: Winners Group E v Runners-up Group D
- R16-7: Winners Group A v 3rd Group C/D/E
- R16-8: Runners-up Group B v Runners-up Group F
Combinations of matches in the round of 16
The specific match-ups involving the third-placed teams depended on which four third-placed teams qualified for the round of 16:
| Third-placed teams qualify from groups |
1A vs |
1B vs |
1C vs |
1D vs | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C | D | 3C | 3D | 3A | 3B | |||
| A | B | C | E | 3C | 3A | 3B | 3E | |||
| A | B | C | F | 3C | 3A | 3B | 3F | |||
| A | B | D | E | 3D | 3A | 3B | 3E | |||
| A | B | D | F | 3D | 3A | 3B | 3F | |||
| A | B | E | F | 3E | 3A | 3B | 3F | |||
| A | C | D | E | 3C | 3D | 3A | 3E | |||
| A | C | D | F | 3C | 3D | 3A | 3F | |||
| A | C | E | F | 3C | 3A | 3F | 3E | |||
| A | D | E | F | 3D | 3A | 3F | 3E | |||
| B | C | D | E | 3C | 3D | 3B | 3E | |||
| B | C | D | F | 3C | 3D | 3B | 3F | |||
| B | C | E | F | 3E | 3C | 3B | 3F | |||
| B | D | E | F | 3E | 3D | 3B | 3F | |||
| C | D | E | F | 3C | 3D | 3F | 3E | |||
Qualified teams
The top two placed teams from each of the six groups, plus the four best-placed third teams, qualified for the knockout stage.
| Group | Winners | Runners-up | Third-placed teams (Best four qualify) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| B | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| C | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| D | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| E | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| F | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Bracket
| Round of 16 | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||
| 28 January – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali) | ||||||||||||||
| Runner-up Group A | ||||||||||||||
| 2 February – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali) | ||||||||||||||
| Runner-up Group C | ||||||||||||||
| 29 January – Al Rayyan (Khalifa) | ||||||||||||||
| Winner Group D | ||||||||||||||
| 6 February – Al Rayyan (Ahmad bin Ali) | ||||||||||||||
| 3rd Group B/E/F | ||||||||||||||
| 28 January – Al Rayyan (Jassim bin Hamad) | ||||||||||||||
| Winner Group B | ||||||||||||||
| 2 February – Al Wakrah | ||||||||||||||
| 3rd Group A/C/D | ||||||||||||||
| 30 January – Al Rayyan (Education) | ||||||||||||||
| Winner Group F | ||||||||||||||
| 10 February – Lusail | ||||||||||||||
| Runner-up Group E | ||||||||||||||
| 31 January – Doha (Abdullah bin Khalifa) | ||||||||||||||
| Winner Group C | ||||||||||||||
| 3 February – Al Rayyan (Education) | ||||||||||||||
| 3rd Group A/B/F | ||||||||||||||
| 31 January – Doha (Al Thumama) | ||||||||||||||
| Winner Group E | ||||||||||||||
| 7 February – Doha (Al Thumama) | ||||||||||||||
| Runner-up Group D | ||||||||||||||
| 29 January – Al Khor | ||||||||||||||
| Winner Group A | ||||||||||||||
| 3 February – Al Khor | ||||||||||||||
| 3rd Group C/D/E | ||||||||||||||
| 30 January – Al Wakrah | ||||||||||||||
| Runner-up Group B | ||||||||||||||
| Runner-up Group F | ||||||||||||||
Round of 16
Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/C/D
| Winner Group B | Match 37 | Third-place Group A/C/D |
|---|---|---|
Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group C
| Runner-up Group A | Match 38 | Runner-up Group C |
|---|---|---|
Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F
| Winner Group D | Match 39 | Third-place Group B/E/F |
|---|---|---|
Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/D/E
| Winner Group A | Match 40 | Third-place Group C/D/E |
|---|---|---|
Runner-up Group B vs Runner-up Group F
| Runner-up Group B | Match 41 | Runner-up Group F |
|---|---|---|
Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group E
| Winner Group F | Match 42 | Runner-up Group E |
|---|---|---|
Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group D
| Winner Group E | Match 43 | Runner-up Group D |
|---|---|---|
Winner Group C vs 3rd Group A/B/F
| Winner Group C | Match 44 | Third-place Group A/B/F |
|---|---|---|
Quarter-finals
Winner Match 38 vs Winner Match 39
| Winner Match 38 | Match 45 | Winner Match 39 |
|---|---|---|
Winner Match 37 vs Winner Match 42
| Winner Match 37 | Match 46 | Winner Match 42 |
|---|---|---|
Winner Match 44 vs Winner Match 43
| Winner Match 44 | Match 47 | Winner Match 43 |
|---|---|---|
Winner Match 40 vs Winner Match 41
| Winner Match 40 | Match 48 | Winner Match 41 |
|---|---|---|
Semi-finals
Winner Match 45 vs Winner Match 46
| Winner Match 45 | Match 49 | Winner Match 46 |
|---|---|---|
Winner Match 47 vs Winner Match 48
| Winner Match 47 | Match 50 | Winner Match 48 |
|---|---|---|
Final
The match was originally scheduled to take place at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. However, the AFC confirmed in 21 August 2023 that the match would be moved to Lusail Stadium, Lusail, due to significant interest for fans.[1]
| Winner Match 49 | Match 51 | Winner Match 50 |
|---|---|---|
References
- ↑ "#AsianCup2023 adds world-class Lusail Stadium to elevate fan experience". the-afc. Asian Football Confederation. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.