AFC Asian Cup records and statistics

This is a list of records and statistics of the AFC Asian Cup.

Summary
First four edition of competition only had four or five teams and played in one single group. Since 1972, the final tournament has introduced the knockout stage. Since 2019, no third place play-off has been played; from 2023, losing semi-finalists are ranked by the AFC based on goal difference in the semi-finals.

Bold text denotes team was host country.

General statistics by tournament
Source:

Overall team records
In this ranking 3 points are awarded for a win, 1 for a draw and 0 for a loss. As per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws. Teams are ranked by total points, then by goal difference, then by goals scored.


 * Vietnam consist of South Vietnam.

Comprehensive team results by tournament

 * Legend


 * – Champions
 * – Runners-up
 * – Third place
 * – Fourth place
 * – Semi-finals
 * QF – Quarter-finals
 * R16 – Round of 16
 * GS – Group stage


 * Q – Qualified for upcoming tournament
 * — Qualified but withdrew / Disqualified after qualification
 * — Did not qualify
 * — Did not enter / Withdrew from the Asian Cup
 * — Hosts

For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament are shown (in parentheses).

Teams never qualified for finals tournaments
Legend
 * – Did not qualify
 * – Did not enter / Withdrew / Banned

For each tournament, the number of teams in each finals tournament are shown (in parentheses).

Other records

 * Only three teams have won the tournament in their debut appearances:
 * South Korea (1956)
 * Iran (1968)
 * Saudi Arabia (1984)
 * Iran hold the record for the most games played, with 74.
 * Only Iran have won three consecutive finals of the AFC Asian Cup.

Most Valuable Player
Source:

Overall top goalscorers
Players in bold are still active at international level.

Top goalscorers in one tournament
Players in bold are still active at international level.

Most tournament appearances
The table lists the players who have appeared in four or more different tournaments.

Younis Mahmoud is the only player in the history of the tournament to score a goal in four separate tournaments.

Source:

Fastest goals scored from kick-off
Only three goals in the history of the tournament have been scored in the first minute of their respective games.


 * Ali Mabkhout (against Bahrain) at the 2015 edition in 14 seconds
 * Fathi Kameel (against China PR) at the 1976 edition in 20 seconds
 * 🇨🇳 Xie Yuxin (against Japan) at the 1992 edition in 20 seconds

Source:

Highest attendance

 * The highest ever attendance officially recorded was of 112,000 during the 1976 AFC Asian Cup final between Iran and Kuwait.

Fair play award

 * First awarded in 1984