The 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification was a qualification process organized by the AFC to determine the participating teams for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. The 2015 AFC Asian Cup, hosted by Australia, featured 16 teams.
2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification Tournament details Dates 6 February 2013 – 5 March 2014 Teams 20 (from 1 confederation) Tournament statistics Matches played 60 Goals scored 161 (2.68 per match) Attendance 672,607 (11,210 per match) Top scorer(s) Reza Ghoochannejhad Ali Mabkhout (5 goals each)
In the initial scheme, ten places were determined by qualification matches, while six places were reserved for the following:
Hosts (Australia) Top three finishers in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup (Japan, Australia, and South Korea ) Winners of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup (North Korea ) Winners of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup (Palestine) As the host nation Australia also finished as runners-up in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, the initial 6 automatic qualification spots were reduced to 5, with a total of 11 spots eventually determined by the qualification matches, in which 20 AFC members compete.
Qualified teams Team Method of qualification Date of qualification Finals appearance Last appearance Previous best performance Australia Hosts 5 January 2011 3rd 2011 Runners-up (2011) Japan 2011 AFC Asian Cup winners 25 January 2011 8th 2011 Winners (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011) South Korea 2011 AFC Asian Cup 3rd place 28 January 2011 13th 2011 Winners (1956, 1960) North Korea 2012 AFC Challenge Cup winners 19 March 2012 4th 2011 Fourth place (1980) Bahrain Group D winners 15 November 2013 5th 2011 Fourth place (2004) United Arab Emirates Group E winners 15 November 2013 9th 2011 Runners-up (1996) Saudi Arabia Group C winners 15 November 2013 9th 2011 Winners (1984, 1988, 1996) Oman Group A winners 19 November 2013 3rd 2007 Group Stage (2004, 2007) Uzbekistan Group E runners-up 19 November 2013 6th 2011 Fourth place (2011) Qatar Group D runners-up 19 November 2013 9th 2011 Quarter-finals (2000, 2011) Iran Group B winners 19 November 2013 13th 2011 Winners (1968, 1972, 1976) Kuwait Group B runners-up 19 November 2013 10th 2011 Winners (1980) Jordan Group A runners-up 4 February 2014 3rd 2011 Quarter-finals (2004, 2011) Iraq Group C runners-up 5 March 2014 8th 2011 Winners (2007) China Best third-placed team 5 March 2014 11th 2011 Runners-up (1984, 2004) Palestine 2014 AFC Challenge Cup winners 30 May 2014 1st Debut None
Qualification process The preliminary draw was held in Melbourne on 9 October 2012, 18:00 UTC+11. The twenty teams involved in the qualifiers were drawn into five groups of four teams each, with each group containing one team from each of the following seeding pots. Each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The top two teams from each group and the best third-placed team from among all the groups qualified for the finals.
The following teams did not enter the main qualifying draw, as categorized as "emerging countries" they compete separately. The teams were eligible to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup by winning either the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup or the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup.
Afghanistan † ‡ Bangladesh † ‡ Bhutan † Brunei ‡ Cambodia † ‡ Chinese Taipei † ‡ Guam ‡ India † ‡ Kyrgyzstan † ‡ Laos † ‡ Macau † ‡ Maldives † ‡ Mongolia † ‡ Myanmar † ‡ Nepal † ‡ North Korea † Northern Mariana Islands ‡ Pakistan † ‡ Palestine † ‡ Philippines † ‡ Sri Lanka † ‡ Tajikistan † ‡ Timor-Leste Turkmenistan † ‡ † Entrants to 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification ‡ Entrants to 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification
Schedule The following matchdays were assigned by the AFC for 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification. As 15 and 19 November 2013 were also the dates of the inter-confederation playoffs for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a number of alternative matchdays were allocated.
Year Matchday Date 2013 Matchday 1 6 February Matchday 2 22 March Matchday 3 15 October Matchday 4 15 November Matchday 5 19 November 2014 Alternative 11, 18, 25, 31 January 4 February Matchday 6 5 March
Groups Tiebreakers In each group, the teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss) and tie breakers were in the following order:
Greater number of points obtained in group matches between the teams concerned Goal difference resulting from group matches between the teams concerned Greater number of goals scored in group matches between the teams concerned (away goals not applicable) Goal difference in all group matches Greater number of goals scored in all group matches Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were involved and they were both on the field of play Drawing of lots
Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Oman 6 4 2 0 7 1 +6 14 — 0–0 1–0 3–1 Jordan 6 3 3 0 10 3 +7 12 0–0 — 2–1 4–0 Syria 6 1 1 4 7 7 0 4 0–1 1–1 — 4–0 Singapore 6 1 0 5 4 17 −13 3 0–2 1–3 2–1 —
Source: [citation needed ]
6 February 2013
17:15 UTC+4
Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat
Attendance: 15,252
Referee: Tan Hai (China PR)
6 February 2013
17:00 UTC+3
Jordan 4–0 Singapore Abdallah Deeb 18' Bani Attiah 52' Hayel 55' , 74' Report
King Abdullah Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 2,004
Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (Uzbekistan)
14 August 2013
19:30 UTC+8
Singapore 0–2 Oman Report
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Attendance: 5,849
Referee: Masaaki Toma (Japan)
15 August 2013
19:00 UTC+4:30
PAS Stadium, Tehran (Iran)
Attendance: 200
Referee: Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
15 October 2013
19:30 UTC+8
Singapore 2–1 Syria Report
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Attendance: 3,012
Referee: Kim Sang-Woo (South Korea)
15 October 2013
18:00 UTC+3
King Abdullah Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 6,423
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)
15 November 2013
14:00 UTC+3:30
Syria 4–0 Singapore Malki 10' Al Douni 83' Jafal 86' Al Agha 90+1' Report
PAS Stadium, Tehran (Iran)
Attendance: 50
Referee: Minoru Tōjō (Japan)
19 November 2013
14:00 UTC+3:30
PAS Stadium, Tehran (Iran)
Attendance: 200
Referee: Abdulrahman Abdou (Qatar)
31 January 2014
18:30 UTC+4
Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat
Attendance: 7,000
4 February 2014
19:30 UTC+8
Singapore 1–3 Jordan Report Bawab 44' Hayel 58' Al-Rawashdeh 90+2'
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore
Attendance: 2,371
Referee: Tan Hai (China PR)
Oman 3–1 Singapore Al Hosni 19' Said 51' Al-Hasani 69' Report
Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat
Attendance: 6,700
Referee: Ko Hyung-Jin (South Korea)
Amman International Stadium, Amman
Attendance: 3,745
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Iran 6 5 1 0 18 5 +13 16 — 3–2 5–0 2–1 Kuwait 6 2 3 1 10 7 +3 9 1–1 — 0–0 3–1 Lebanon 6 2 2 2 12 14 −2 8 1–4 1–1 — 5–2 Thailand 6 0 0 6 7 21 −14 0 0–3 1–3 2–5 —
Source: [citation needed ]
6 February 2013
15:30 UTC+3:30
Iran 5–0 Lebanon Ghoochannejhad 26' , 62' Nekounam 45+1' (pen.) , 61' (pen.) , 80' Report
Azadi Stadium, Tehran
Attendance: 19,733
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
6 February 2013
19:00 UTC+7
Thailand 1–3 Kuwait Report Theeraton 25' (o.g.) Fadel 59' Aman 65'
Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Lebanon 5–2 Thailand Chaito 6' , 22' Haidar 31' Maatouk 72' Onika 90+1' Report
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Kim Dong-Jin (South Korea)
Attendance: 12,321
Referee: Lee Min-Hu (South Korea)
15 October 2013
17:30 UTC+3
Lebanon 1–1 Kuwait Report
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
15 October 2013
19:00 UTC+3:30
Iran 2–1 Thailand Hosseini 67' Ghoochannejhad 70' Report
Azadi Stadium, Tehran
Attendance: 17,330
Referee: Abdullah Balideh (Qatar)
15 November 2013
19:00 UTC+7
Thailand 0–3 Iran Report Dejagah 28' Ghoochannejhad 42' Jahanbakhsh 90+5'
Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Ben Williams (Australia)
15 November 2013
18:35 UTC+3
Kuwait 0–0 Lebanon Report
Attendance: 11,500
Referee: Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
19 November 2013
17:30 UTC+2
Lebanon 1–4 Iran Report Sadeghi 39' Dejagah 51' Nekounam 55' (pen.) Ghoochannejhad 65'
Attendance: 100
Referee: Tan Hai (China PR)
19 November 2013
18:35 UTC+3
Kuwait 3–1 Thailand Nasser 19' , 71' Awadh 56' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (Uzbekistan)
3 March 2014
17:30 UTC+3:30
Iran 3–2 Kuwait Karimi 2' Fadel 61' (o.g.) Ansarifard 90+1' Report
Enghelab Stadium, Karaj
Attendance: 7,000
Thailand 2–5 Lebanon Teeratep 23' (pen.) Adisak 76' Report Ghaddar 2' Maatouk 18' , 46' Saad 45+1' Antar 63'
Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Yudai Yamamoto (Japan)
Group C
Source: [citation needed ]
6 February 2013
17:30 UTC+4
Iraq 1–0 Indonesia Report
Al-Rashid Stadium, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
Attendance: 3,600
Referee: Minoru Tōjō (Japan)
6 February 2013
20:15 UTC+3
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Helong Stadium, Changsha
Attendance: 31,621
Referee: Ben Williams (Australia)
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Attendance: 75,000
Referee: Kim Jong-Hyeok (South Korea)
15 October 2013
19:00 UTC+7
Indonesia 1–1 China Report
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Attendance: 500
Referee: Abdul Malik Abdul Bashir (Singapore)
15 October 2013
19:30 UTC+3
Amman International Stadium, Amman (Jordan)
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Abdullah Al Hilali (Oman)
15 November 2013
19:35 UTC+8
China 1–0 Indonesia Report
Shaanxi Province Stadium, Xi'an
Attendance: 33,217
Referee: Peter Green (Australia)
15 November 2013
19:30 UTC+3
Attendance: 21,600
Referee: Masaaki Toma (Japan)
19 November 2013
19:35 UTC+8
Shaanxi Province Stadium, Xi'an
Attendance: 36,016
Referee: Kim Dong-Jin (South Korea)
19 November 2013
19:00 UTC+7
Indonesia 0–2 Iraq Report Ahmed 27' Jassim 32' (pen.)
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta
Attendance: 300
Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Iraq 3–1 China Mahmoud 23' , 43' Adnan 58' Report
Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah (United Arab Emirates)
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Group D
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification 1 Bahrain 6 4 2 0 7 1 +6 14 2015 AFC Asian Cup — 1–0 1–0 2–0 2 Qatar 6 4 1 1 13 2 +11 13 0–0 — 1–0 6–0 3 Malaysia 6 2 1 3 5 7 −2 7 1–1 0–1 — 2–1 4 Yemen 6 0 0 6 3 18 −15 0 0–2 1–4 1–2 —
Source: [citation needed ]
6 February 2013
19:15 UTC+4
Sharjah Stadium, Sharjah (United Arab Emirates)
Attendance: 450
Referee: Khalil Al Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
6 February 2013
18:30 UTC+3
Qatar 2–0 Malaysia Report
Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 7,320
Referee: Alireza Faghani (
Iran )
Malaysia 2–1 Yemen Report
Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Peter Green (Australia)
Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa
Attendance: 1,950
Referee: Abdullah Al Hilali (Oman)
13 October 2013
19:30 UTC+3
Qatar 6–0 Yemen Ibrahim 4' (pen.) , 61' , 76' Al-Haydos 24' Soria 70' Afif 90+1' Report
Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 11,920
Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (Uzbekistan)
15 October 2013
20:45 UTC+8
Malaysia 1–1 Bahrain Report
Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
Attendance: 6,500
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
15 November 2013
16:00 UTC+4
Yemen 1–4 Qatar Report Soria 3' Hassan 32' Kasola 54' Jeddo 68'
Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium, Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
Attendance: 350
Referee: Marai Al Awaji (Saudi Arabia)
15 November 2013
17:45 UTC+3
Bahrain 1–0 Malaysia Report
Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Mohsen Torky (
Iran )
19 November 2013
20:45 UTC+8
Malaysia 0–1 Qatar Report
Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam
Attendance: 4,079
Referee: Kim Sang-Woo (South Korea)
19 November 2013
17:45 UTC+3
Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa
Attendance: 600
Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan)
Yemen 1–2 Malaysia Report
Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium, Al Ain (United Arab Emirates)
Attendance: 311
Referee: Valentin Kovalenko (Uzbekistan)
Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 12,878
Referee: Fahad Al-Mirdasi (Saudi Arabia)
Group E
Source: [citation needed ]
6 February 2013
16:00 UTC+5
Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 16,287
Referee: Ali Abdulnabi (Bahrain)
6 February 2013
18:00 UTC+7
Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi
Attendance: 7,200
Referee: Strebre Delovski (Australia)
Mong Kok Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 6,639
Referee: Abdulrahman Abdou (Qatar)
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 21,357
Referee: Tan Hai (China PR)
15 October 2013
20:00 UTC+8
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 7,923
Referee: Kim Jong-Hyeok (South Korea)
15 October 2013
18:00 UTC+5
Uzbekistan 3–1 Vietnam Rashidov 69' Âu Văn Hoàn 74' (o.g.) Sergeev 90+2' Report
Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 5,675
Referee: Mohsen Torky (
Iran )
15 November 2013
19:00 UTC+7
Vietnam 0–3 Uzbekistan Report Shodiev 40' Sergeev 46' Rashidov 89'
Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Kim Jong-Hyeok (South Korea)
15 November 2013
19:30 UTC+4
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 10,871
Referee: Alireza Faghani (
Iran )
19 November 2013
20:00 UTC+8
Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 5,679
Referee: Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)
19 November 2013
19:30 UTC+4
Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 9,674
Referee: Ryuji Sato (Japan)
Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Kim Sang-Woo (South Korea)
Vietnam 3–1 Hong Kong Huỳnh Quốc Anh 24' Nguyễn Anh Đức 68' Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng 83' Report
Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi
Attendance: 5,800
Ranking of third-placed teams To determine the best third-placed team, the following criteria were used:
Number of points obtained in the group matches Goal difference in the group matches Greater number of goals scored in the group matches Fewer points calculated according to the number of yellow and red cards received in the group matches (1 point for each yellow card, 3 points for each red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for each direct red card, 4 points for each yellow card followed by a direct red card) Drawing of lots Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts C China 6 2 2 2 5 6 −1 8 B Lebanon 6 2 2 2 12 14 −2 8 D Malaysia 6 2 1 3 5 7 −2 7 A Syria 6 1 1 4 7 7 0 4 E Hong Kong 6 1 1 4 2 13 −11 4
Source: [citation needed ]
Goalscorers