Which 2022 World Cup venues will be used for 2023 AFC Asian Cup? | OneFootball

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup is a mere few days away with international football returning to Qatar just 13 months after the World Cup. The venues are ready-made, then, having only just hosted football's greatest spectacle. K League United provides a quick guide to which of the World Cup stadiums will be used by Asia's elite over the next month or so.

Which stadiums were used in the 2022 World Cup?

Qatar, having hosted the World Cup in 2022, was seen as the ideal host for the AFC Asian Cup once China pulled out. Of the nine stadiums being used for the Asian Cup, seven were used at the World Cup. Stadium 974, the one made of shipping containers, no longer exists.

None of the stadiums are newly made for the Asian Cup, but Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Rayyan and Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha are two smaller stadiums that have been added to the list. The former holds 15,000 and the latter 10,000. Jassim bin Hamad Stadium is the home of Al-Sadd and has been since 1975 when it was first built. It was renovated in 2004 and 2010. Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium is the home of Al-Duhail SC and was opened in 2013.

Where will South Korea play?

South Korea kick off their Group E match against Bahrain in the 15,000-seater Jassim bin Hamad Stadium. The match against Jordan on January 20th will be played at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, a 44,000-seater that hosted eight matches at the World Cup including Spain's 7-0 win over Costa Rica and Morocco's 1-0 win over Portugal. The third and final group stage match on January 25th against Malaysia will be at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah. The 44,000-seater hosted seven matches at the World Cup, mostly in the group stage but was also the venue where Japan lost on penalties to Croatia in the Round of 16.

What about the stadiums South Korea played at during the World Cup?

South Korea played all three of their group stage games at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan and then to the now non-existent Stadium 974 for the Round of 16 clash with Brazil. Korea could return to Education City Stadium in the quarterfinals should they win their group and then beat the runners-up of Group D in the first knockout stage.

And what about the 2020 AFC Champions League?

Four of these venues served as the stadiums used in the centralised hub in 2020 - the first AFC Champions League campaign played during the pandemic. Al Janoub, Education City, Jassim bin Jamad, and Khalifa International all hosted K League teams in the ACL.

Al Janoub was where Jeonbuk beat Sydney FC 1-0 and lost 4-1 to Yokohama F. Marinos in Group H. Education City is where FC Seoul lost 2-1 to both Beijing FC and Melbourne Victory and where Ulsan beat Perth Glory twice and well as FC Tokyo once.

Jassim bin Hamad is where FC Seoul beat Chiangrai United 5-0 but then lost 2-1 to the Thai outfit a few days later. It's also where Ulsan beat Shanghai Shenhua 4-1, while Khalifa International is where Suwon Bluewings drew 0-0 and 1-1 with Guangzhou Evergrande, beat Vissel Kobe 2-0, and where Jeonbuk did the double over Shanghai SIPG.

Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor (68,895, 2021)

(Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Al Bayt Stadium hosted nine matches during the 2022 World Cup, including the opener - Qatar's 2-0 loss to Ecuador. It also hosted three knockout matches - one in the Round of 16 (England 3-0 Senegal), one quarterfinal (England 1-2 France), and one semifinal (France 2-0 Morocco). The average attendance during the World Cup was 66,794. The stadium was also one of the venues for the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.

AFC Asian Cup Matches

17th January 2024 - Tajikistan vs. Qatar, Group A23rd January 2024 - Syria vs. India, Group B29th January 2024 - Group A Winner vs. Group C/D/E Third-place, Round of 163rd February 2024 - Winner of Match 40 vs. Winner of Match 41, Quarterfinals

Lusail Stadium, Lusail (88,966, 2021)

(Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

The venue for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final and also where the final of the AFC Asian Cup will be played. A total of 10 matches were played here during the FIFA World Cup, including that eventful 2-2 draw between the Netherlands and Argentina, and the dramatic final between Argentina and France, with an average attendance across the tournament of 87,416. The Lusail Stadium will open and close the AFC Asian Cup.

AFC Asian Cup Matches

12th January 2024 - Qatar vs. Lebanon, Group A (Opening Match)10th February 2024 - AFC Asian Cup Final

Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan (45,032)

(Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)

Seven matches were played here during the 2022 World Cup, mostly in the group stage, and with an average attendance of 42,788. It was also the venue where Australia narrowly lost to eventual winners Argentina in the Round of 16. In terms of other teams from the AFC, Iran beat Wales 2-0 here in Group B on 25th November 2022, and Japan lost 1-0 to Costa Rica in Group E on 27th November.

AFC Asian Cup Matches

13th January 2024 - Australia vs. India, Group B15th January 2024 - Indonesia vs. Iraq, Group D18th January 2024 - India vs. Uzbekistan, Group B21st January 2024 - Kyrgyzstan vs. Saudi Arabia, Group F28th January 2024 - Group A Runners-up vs. Group C Runners-up, Round of 162nd February 2024 - Match 38 Winners vs. Match 39 Winners, Quarterfinals6th February 2024 - Match 45 Winners vs. Match 46 Winners, Semifinals

Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan  (44,667, 2020)

(Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images)

The venue for all three of South Korea's 2022 World Cup group matches hosted eight matches in total, with an average attendance of 43,639. In terms of other AFC teams, Saudi Arabia lost 2-0 to Poland at this stadium in Group C on 26th November. Two knockout stage matches were played here - Morocco's penalty shootout win over Spain in the Round of 16, and Croatia's 4-2 penalty shootout win over Brazil in the quarters. Education City Stadium was also one of the venues for the centralised 2020 AFC Champions League with six matches involving K League teams playing here. Ulsan beat Melbourne Victory 3-0 here in the Round of 16 en route to lifting the trophy. It was also one of the venues for the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.

AFC Asian Cup Matches

14th January 2024 - Iran vs. Palestine, Group C19th January 2024 - Iraq vs. Japan, Group D23rd January 2024 - Iran vs. United Arab Emirates, Group C25th January 2024 - Saudi Arabia vs. Thailand, Group F30th January 2024 - Group F Winner vs. Group E Runners-up, Round of 163rd February 2024 - Match 44 Winners vs. Match 43 Winners, Quarterfinals

Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan (15,000, 1975)

Being one of the smaller arenas on the list, the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium wasn't one of the World Cup venues. It's home to Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd and sometimes hosts Qatar national team games. It has also hosted the Supercoppa Italiana twice but K League fans will recognise it as being the stadium where FC Seoul and Ulsan had matches during the 2022 ACL.

AFC Asian Cup Matches

13th January 2024 - Uzbekistan vs. Syria, Group B15th January 2024 - South Korea vs. Bahrain, Group E18th January 2024 - Syria vs. Australia, Group B20th January 2024 - Bahrain vs. Malaysia, Group E22nd January 2024 - Tajikistan vs. Lebanon, Group A28th January 2024 - Group B Winners vs. Group A/C/D Third-place, Round of 16

Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan (45,857, 1976)

(Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)

It's a stadium that's hosted many an international tournament. Two matches in the 1998 Arab Cup - including the final - were played here, and six matches during the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, including the final. Eight matches at the FIFA World Cup were held here, including England's 6-2 win over Iran, Japan's 2-1 victory over Germany, and the Samurai Blue's 2-1 win over Spain. It's also where Suwon Bluewings (3) and Jeonbuk (2) had ACL matches in 2020.

AFC Asian Cup Matches

14th January 2024 - United Arab Emirates vs. Hong Kong, Group C16th January 2024 - Saudi Arabia vs. Oman, Group F19th January 2024 - Hong Kong vs. Iran, Group C22nd January 2024 - Qatar vs. China, Group A25th January 2024 - Jordan vs. Bahrain, Group E29th January 2024 - Group D Winners vs. Group B/E/F Third-place, Round of 16

Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha (10,000, 2013)

(Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

The stadium has hosted an international competition before having been one of the venues for the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup in 2019. Hosts Qatar didn't play here but the stadium did host the final, Bahrain's 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia. When not hosting international tournaments it's the home of Al-Duhail, Kim Moon-hwan's current club.

AFC Asian Cup Matches

13th January 2024 - China vs. Tajikistan, Group A16th January 2024 - Thailand vs. Kyrgyzstan, Group F19th January 2024 - Vietnam vs. Indonesia, Group D21st January 2024 - Oman vs. Thailand, Group F23rd January 2024 - Hong Kong vs. Palestine, Group C25th January 2024 - Kyrgyzstan vs. Oman, Group F31st January 2024 - Group C Winners vs. Group A/B/F Third-place, Round of 16

Al Thumama Stadium, Doha (44,400, 2021)

Eight matches were played here during the 2022 World Cup with an average attendance of 42,210. Hosts Qatar lost 3-1 to Senegal on 25th November and Iran lost 1-0 to the United States on 28th November. Six of the matches it held during the World Cup were in the group stage but it was also where France beat Poland 3-1 in the Round of 16 and where Morocco beat Portugal 1-0 in the quarters. It was also where Spain thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 but wasn't used beyond the last eight.

AFC Asian Cup Matches

14th January 2024 - Japan vs. Vietnam, Group D17th January 2024 - Lebanon vs. China, Group A20th January 2024 - Jordan vs. South Korea, Group E24th January 2024 - Japan vs. Indonesia, Group D31st January 2024 - Group E Winners vs. Group D Runners-up, Round of 167th February 2024 - Match 47 Winners vs. Match 48 Winners, Semifinals

Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah (44,325, 2019)

Hosted seven matches in the 2022 World Cup. In terms of AFC teams, Australia and Japan both had matches in this stadium; the former lost 4-1 to France in Group D on 22nd November, and the latter lost on penalties to Croatia in the Round of 16. The stadium wasn't used beyond the first knockout rounds and had an average attendance of 41,253. The stadium was also used for the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup and the 24th Arabian Gulf Cup in 2019. Two ACL games involving K League teams were played here in 2020, Jeonbuk's 1-0 win over Sydney and the Green Warriors' 4-1 loss to Yokohama F. Marinos.

15th January 2024 - Malaysia vs. Jordan, Group E18th January 2024 - Palestine vs. United Arab Emirates, Group C23rd January 2024 - Australia vs. Uzbekistan, Group B25th January 2024 - South Korea vs. Malaysia, Group E30th January 2024 - Group B Runners-up vs. Group F Runners-up, Round of 162nd February 2024 - Match 37 Winners vs. Match 42 Winners, Quarterfinals