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2011 AFC Asian Cup
2011 AFC Asian Cup
2011 AFC Asian Cup
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2011 AFC Asian Cup
2011 كأس آسيا
Tournament details
Host countryQatar
Dates7–29 January
Teams16 (from 1 confederation)
Venue5 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Japan (4th title)
Runners-up Australia
Third place South Korea
Fourth place Uzbekistan
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored90 (2.81 per match)
Attendance405,361 (12,668 per match)
Top scorerSouth Korea Koo Ja-cheol (5 goals)
Best playerJapan Keisuke Honda
Fair play award South Korea
← 2007
2015 →
Results of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup was the 15th edition of the men's AFC Asian Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The finals were held in Qatar from 7 to 29 January 2011.[1][2] It was the second time that the tournament was hosted by Qatar, the previous occasion being the 1988 AFC Asian Cup. Japan won the cup for the record-breaking fourth time after a 1–0 win against Australia, and earned the right to compete in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil as the representative from AFC.[3][4]

A television viewing audience of 484 million in 80 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, North America and North Africa witnessed Japan defeat Australia 1–0 in the final.[5]

Host selection

[edit]

Qatar, India and Iran all lodged interest in hosting the 2011 AFC Asian Cup,[6] while Australia also considered making a late bid.[7] Qatar officially submitted their bid on 19 June 2006,[8] while India withdrew their interest and Iran failed to submit proper documentation for their bid on time.[9]

Qatar was announced as host nation on 29 July 2007, during the 2007 AFC Asian Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. Due to FIFA regulations stating that confederation events can be hosted either in January or July, and July being peak summer heat in the Middle East, 2011 Asian Cup took place in January of that year.[1][2]

Qualification

[edit]
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification

The teams finishing first, second and third in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, and the host nation for the 2011 competition, received automatic byes to the finals. They were joined by the top two finishers in each of five qualifying groups. The AFC Challenge Cup acted as a further qualification competition for eligible countries within the emerging and developing category of member associations. The winners of the AFC Challenge Cup competitions in 2008 and 2010 qualified automatically to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals. These two winners were India and North Korea. It was India's first play for the Asian Cup since 1984, and North Korea's first since 1992.

The final day of qualification was 3 March 2010.

List of qualified teams

[edit]
Final qualification status
  Team qualified for Asian Cup
  Team failed to qualify
Country Qualified as Date qualification was secured Previous appearances in tournament1, 2
 Qatar Hosts 29 July 2007 7 (1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, 2007)
 Iraq 2007 AFC Asian Cup winner 25 July 2007 6 (1972, 1976, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007)
 Saudi Arabia 2007 AFC Asian Cup runner-up 25 July 2007 7 (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007)
 South Korea 2007 AFC Asian Cup third place 28 July 2007 11 (1956, 1960, 1964, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007)
 India 2008 AFC Challenge Cup winner 13 August 2008 2 (1964, 1984)
 Uzbekistan Group C runner-up 18 November 2009 4 (1996, 2000, 2004, 2007)
 Syria Group D winner 18 November 2009 4 (1980, 1984, 1988, 1996)
 Iran Group E winner 6 January 2010 11 (1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007)
 China Group D runner-up 6 January 2010 9 (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007)
 Japan Group A winner 6 January 2010 6 (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007)
 Bahrain Group A runner-up 6 January 2010 3 (1988, 2004, 2007)
 United Arab Emirates Group C winner 6 January 2010 7 (1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2007)
 North Korea 2010 AFC Challenge Cup winner 27 February 2010 2 (1980, 1992)
 Australia Group B winner 3 March 2010 1 (2007)
 Kuwait Group B runner-up 3 March 2010 8 (1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004)
 Jordan Group E runner-up 3 March 2010 1 (2004)

Notes:

1 Bold indicates champion for that year
2 Italic indicates host

Draw

[edit]

The draw for the AFC Asian Cup 2011 was held on 23 April 2010 in Doha, Qatar. Qatar were seeded among the top group.[10][11]

Seeding

[edit]

Seeding was announced on 22 April 2010. Qatar were automatically placed in Group A.[12] FIFA rankings of April 2010 are given in brackets.[13]

Pot 1 (Host and Seeds) Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
 Qatar (96)
 Iraq (81)
 Saudi Arabia (66)
 South Korea (47) 		 Japan (43)
 Australia (20)
 Iran (60)
 Uzbekistan (93) 		 China (84)
 United Arab Emirates (100)
 Bahrain (69)
 Jordan (103) 		 Syria (98)
 Kuwait (97)
 India (133)
 North Korea (106)

Venues

[edit]
Main article: List of football stadiums in Qatar
class=notpageimage|
Location of the host cities of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
16km
9.9miles
5
5 Suheim bin Hamad Stadium
5 Suheim bin Hamad Stadium
4
4 Thani bin Jassim Stadium
4 Thani bin Jassim Stadium
3
3 Khalifa International Stadium
3 Khalifa International Stadium
2
2 Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
2 Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
1
1 Ahmed bin Ali Stadium
1 Ahmed bin Ali Stadium
Location of the stadiums of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
1
Ahmed bin Ali Stadium
2
Jassim bin Hamad Stadium
3
Khalifa International Stadium
4
Thani bin Jassim Stadium
5
Suheim bin Hamad Stadium

Members of the AFC Organising Committee for AFC Asian Cup 2011 have agreed the use of five stadiums for the 2011 tournament.[14]

Since the tournament, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium was demolished. Khalifa International Stadium have been heavily modified. The Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Thani bin Jassim Stadium and Suheim bin Hamad Stadium are the only largely unmodified stadium used for this tournament.

List of host cities and stadiums
City Stadium Capacity Image
Al Rayyan Ahmed bin Ali Stadium 21,282
Jassim bin Hamad Stadium 12,946
Khalifa International Stadium 40,000
Thani bin Jassim Stadium 21,175
Doha Suheim bin Hamad Stadium 13,000

Officials

[edit]

12 referees and 24 assistants were selected for the tournament, along with three stand-by referees:[15]

Referee Assistants
Australia Ben Williams Australia Ben Wilson Australia Hakan Anaz
Japan Yuichi Nishimura Japan Toru Sagara Japan Toshiyuki Nagi
South Korea Kim Dong-jin South Korea Jeong Hae-sang South Korea Jang Jun-mo
Malaysia Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh China Mu Yuxin Malaysia Mohd Sabri bin Mat Daud
Oman Abdullah Al Hilali Kyrgyzstan Bakhadyr Kochkarov Oman Hamed Al Mayahi
Qatar Abdulrahman Abdou Qatar Mohammad Darman Qatar Hassan Al Thawadi
Iran Mohsen Torky Iran Hassan Kamranifar Iran Reza Sokhandan
Singapore Abdul Malik Abdul Bashir Singapore Jeffrey Goh Gek Pheng Singapore Haja Maidin
Bahrain Nawaf Shukralla Bahrain Khaled Al Alan Syria Mohammed Jawdat Nehlawi
United Arab Emirates Ali Al Badwawi United Arab Emirates Saleh Al Marzouqi Kuwait Yaser Marad
Uzbekistan Ravshan Irmatov Uzbekistan Abdukhamidullo Rasulov Uzbekistan Rafael Ilyasov

Standby referees

[edit]
Iran Alireza Faghani
Uzbekistan Valentin Kovalenko
Qatar Abdullah Balideh

Squads

[edit]
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup squads

Each country's final squad of 23 players was submitted by 28 December 2010.[16]

Group stage

[edit]

All times are Arabian Standard Time (AST) – UTC+3

Tie-breaking criteria

[edit]

The teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss) and tie breakers are in following order:[16]

  1. Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  2. Goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
  3. Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned;
  4. Goal difference in all the group matches;
  5. Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches;
  6. Kicks from the penalty mark if only two teams are involved and they are both on the field of play;
  7. Fewer score 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)
  8. Drawing of lots.

Group A

[edit]
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup Group A
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Uzbekistan 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Qatar (H) 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 6
3  China 3 1 1 1 4 4 0 4
4  Kuwait 3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Qatar 0–2 Uzbekistan
Report Ahmedov 59'
Djeparov 77'
Attendance: 37,143
Kuwait 0–2 China
Report Zhang Linpeng 58'
Deng Zhuoxiang 67'
Attendance: 7,423
Uzbekistan 2–1 Kuwait
Shatskikh 41'
Djeparov 65'		 Report Al-Mutwa 49' (pen.)
Attendance: 3,481
China 0–2 Qatar
Report Ahmed 27', 45+1'
Attendance: 30,778
Qatar 3–0 Kuwait
Bilal 12'
El-Sayed 16'
Fábio César 86'		 Report
Attendance: 28,339
China 2–2 Uzbekistan
Yu Hai 6'
Hao Junmin 56'		 Report Ahmedov 30'
Geynrikh 46'
Attendance: 3,529

Group B

[edit]
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup Group B
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Japan 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Jordan 3 2 1 0 4 2 +2 7
3  Syria 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
4  Saudi Arabia 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Japan 1–1 Jordan
Yoshida 90+2' Report Abdel Fattah 45'
Attendance: 6,255
Saudi Arabia 1–2 Syria
Al-Jassim 60' Report A. Al Hussain 38', 63'
Attendance: 15,768
Jordan 1–0 Saudi Arabia
Abdul-Rahman 42' Report
Attendance: 17,349
Referee: Ali Al-Badwawi (UAE)
Syria 1–2 Japan
Al Khatib 76' (pen.) Report Hasebe 35'
Honda 82' (pen.)
Attendance: 10,453
Referee: Mohsen Torky (Iran)
Saudi Arabia 0–5 Japan
Report Okazaki 8', 13', 80'
Maeda 19', 51'
Attendance: 2,022
Jordan 2–1 Syria
A. Diab 30' (o.g.)
Al-Saify 59'		 Report Al Zeno 15'
Attendance: 9,849

Group C

[edit]
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup Group C
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Australia 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  South Korea 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7
3  Bahrain 3 1 0 2 6 5 +1 3
4  India 3 0 0 3 3 13 −10 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
India 0–4 Australia
Report Cahill 11', 65'
Kewell 25'
Holman 45+2'
Attendance: 9,783
Referee: Ali Al-Badwawi (UAE)
South Korea 2–1 Bahrain
Koo Ja-cheol 41', 56' Report Aaish 85' (pen.)
Attendance: 6,669
Australia 1–1 South Korea
Jedinak 62' Report Koo Ja-cheol 24'
Attendance: 15,526
Bahrain 5–2 India
Aaish 8' (pen.)
Abdullatif 16', 19', 35', 77'		 Report Gouramangi 9'
Chhetri[a] 52'
Attendance: 11,032
South Korea 4–1 India
Ji Dong-won 6', 23'
Koo Ja-cheol 9'
Son Heung-min 81'		 Report Chhetri 12' (pen.)
Attendance: 11,366
Australia 1–0 Bahrain
Jedinak 37' Report
Attendance: 3,919

Group D

[edit]
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup Group D
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Iran 3 3 0 0 6 1 +5 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Iraq 3 2 0 1 3 2 +1 6
3  North Korea 3 0 1 2 0 2 −2 1
4  United Arab Emirates 3 0 1 2 0 4 −4 1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
North Korea 0–0 United Arab Emirates
Report
Attendance: 3,639
Iraq 1–2 Iran
Mahmoud 13' Report Rezaei 42'
Mobali 84'
Attendance: 10,478
Iran 1–0 North Korea
Ansarifard 63' Report
Attendance: 6,488
United Arab Emirates 0–1 Iraq
Report W. Abbas 90+3' (o.g.)
Attendance: 7,233
Iraq 1–0 North Korea
Jassim 22' Report
Attendance: 4,111
United Arab Emirates 0–3 Iran
Report Afshin 67'
M. Nouri 83'
W. Abbas 90+3' (o.g.)
Attendance: 5,012

Knockout stage

[edit]
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage
 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
21 January – Al Rayyan (KIS)
 
 
 Uzbekistan2
 
25 January – Al Rayyan (KIS)
 
 Jordan1
 
 Uzbekistan0
 
22 January – Al Rayyan (JBHS)
 
 Australia6
 
 Australia (a.e.t.)1
 
29 January – Al Rayyan (KIS)
 
 Iraq0
 
 Australia0
 
21 January – Al Rayyan (TBJS)
 
 Japan (a.e.t.)1
 
 Japan3
 
25 January – Al Rayyan (TBJS)
 
 Qatar2
 
 Japan (pen.)2 (3)
 
22 January – Doha
 
 South Korea2 (0) Third place
 
 Iran0
 
28 January – Al Rayyan (JBHS)
 
 South Korea (a.e.t.)1
 
 Uzbekistan2
 
 
 South Korea3
 

All times are Arabian Standard Time (AST) – UTC+3

Quarter-finals

[edit]
Japan 3–2 Qatar
Kagawa 29', 71'
Inoha 89'		 Report Soria 13'
Fábio César 63'
Attendance: 19,479
Uzbekistan 2–1 Jordan
Bakayev 47', 49' Report B. Bani Yaseen 58'
Attendance: 16,073
Australia 1–0 (a.e.t.) Iraq
Kewell 118' Report
Attendance: 7,889
Iran 0–1 (a.e.t.) South Korea
Report Yoon Bit-garam 105'
Attendance: 7,111

Semi-finals

[edit]
Japan 2–2 (a.e.t.) South Korea
Maeda 36'
Hosogai 97'		 Report Ki Sung-yueng 23' (pen.)
Hwang Jae-won 120'
Penalties
K. Honda soccer ball with check mark
Okazaki soccer ball with check mark
Nagatomo soccer ball with red X
Konno soccer ball with check mark		 3–0 soccer ball with red X Koo Ja-cheol
soccer ball with red X Lee Yong-rae
soccer ball with red X Hong Jeong-ho
Attendance: 16,171
Uzbekistan 0–6 Australia
Report Kewell 5'
Ognenovski 35'
Carney 65'
Emerton 73'
Valeri 82'
Kruse 83'
Attendance: 24,826
Referee: Ali Al Badwawi (UAE)

Third place playoff

[edit]
Uzbekistan 2–3 South Korea
Geynrikh 45' (pen.), 53' Report Koo Ja-cheol 18'
Ji Dong-won 28', 39'
Attendance: 8,199

Final

[edit]
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup final
Australia 0–1 (a.e.t.) Japan
Report Lee 109'
Attendance: 37,174

Statistics

[edit]

Goalscorers

[edit]

With five goals, Koo Ja-cheol was the top scorer in the tournament. In total, 90 goals were scored by 60 different players, with three of them credited as own goals.

5 goals:

4 goals:

3 goals:

2 goals:

1 goal:

1 own goal:

2 own goals:

Awards

[edit]

The AFC selected the MVP, top goalscorer, fair play award and four quality players of the tournament.[17] They didn't officially announce the all-star team of this tournament.

Most Valuable Player

Top Goalscorer

Fair Play Award

Quality Players

Final standings

[edit]
Pos. Team G Pld W D L Pts GF GA GD
1  Japan B 6 4 2 0 14 14 6 +8
2  Australia C 6 4 1 1 13 13 2 +11
3  South Korea C 6 4 2 0 14 13 7 +6
4  Uzbekistan A 6 3 1 2 10 10 13 −3
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
5  Qatar A 4 2 0 2 6 7 5 +2
6  Jordan B 4 2 1 1 7 5 4 +1
7  Iran D 4 3 0 1 9 6 2 +4
8  Iraq D 4 2 0 2 6 3 3 0
Eliminated in group stage
9  China A 3 1 1 1 4 4 4 0
10  Bahrain C 3 1 0 2 3 6 5 +1
11  Syria B 3 1 0 2 3 4 5 −1
12  North Korea D 3 0 1 2 1 0 2 −2
13  United Arab Emirates D 3 0 1 2 1 0 4 −4
14  Kuwait A 3 0 0 3 0 1 7 −6
15  Saudi Arabia B 3 0 0 3 0 1 8 −7
16  India C 3 0 0 3 0 3 13 −10

Source: AFC Technical Report

Marketing

[edit]

Official match ball

[edit]

The Nike Total 90 Tracer was the official match ball of the tournament.[18]

Official mascot

[edit]

Official mascot were Saboog, Tmbki, Freha, Zkriti and Tranaa. They are a family of Jerboas, a rodent found in the deserts of Qatar. The characters are named after different locations in the north, south, east and west of Qatar.

Official song

[edit]
"Yalla Asia"
Single by Jay Sean featuring Karl Wolf and Radhika Vekaria
Released9 January 2011
Length3:21
Songwriters
ProducerMax Herman

For marketing of the event, the organisers opted for the slogan "Yalla Asia" with a song sung by international artists Jay Sean and Karl Wolf, featuring Radhika Vekaria. Yalla Asia was composed and written by Radhika Vekaria, Max Herman and Zoulikha El Fassi. Max Herman produced the record for Zoul Projects 2011. The music video features Football Free Stylers Abbas Farid and Soufiane Touzani.

The music video was released on January 9, 2011.

Sponsorship

[edit]

Official Sponsors

Official Supporters

Controversies

[edit]

The 2011 Asian Cup was not without controversies as concerns were risen about the extremely low crowds at most games not featuring hosts Qatar. The average attendance was just 12,006, much lower than the previous AFC Asian Cup tournaments. North Korea and the United Arab Emirates both had the lowest attendance numbers with approximately 3,000 and 6,000 attendances respectively.[19] The final match between Japan and Australia saw as many as 3,000 to 10,000 fans with valid tickets denied entry to the stadium[20] which then allegedly sparked small skirmishes among fans, "It was just incredibly badly handled. There were kids and families, not causing any problem, being confronted by riot police and being told they weren't getting in", according to Andy Richardson, Al Jazeera's sports correspondent.[21] The AFC stated that the gates were closed early for security concerns and organisers did not anticipate an influx of Japanese and Australian fans. The organising committee has offered to refund all tickets not redeemed at the match.[22]

After staging the 2006 Asian Games,[23] this Asian Cup was being closely watched as an indicator to see how Qatar copes with hosting a major international football tournament[24] in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2011 AFC Asian Cup

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup was the fifteenth edition of the quadrennial international men's association football championship organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for national teams from Asia. Hosted by Qatar for the second time, the tournament finals took place across five stadiums primarily in and around Doha from 7 to 29 January 2011, featuring 16 qualified teams divided into four groups followed by knockout stages. On 29 January 2011, Japan emerged as champions, securing a record fourth title with a 1–0 extra-time victory over Australia in the final at Khalifa International Stadium, courtesy of a volley in the 109th minute by substitute Tadanari Lee, who had come on just 11 minutes earlier. This triumph qualified Japan for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and marked a defensive masterclass under coach Alberto Zaccheroni, as the Samurai Blue conceded only one goal throughout the competition. Australia reached their first-ever final but fell short despite dominating possession, highlighting their growing competitiveness since joining the AFC in 2006. Uzbekistan achieved their best finish by securing third place after defeating South Korea on penalties, while host Qatar exited in the group stage despite an opening win. The event drew attention for its compact scheduling amid winter conditions and served as a precursor to Qatar's preparations for future global tournaments.

Host Selection

Bidding Process

submitted the sole formal bid to host the 2011 AFC Asian Cup on June 20, 2007, following the withdrawal of interest from and the failure of to provide proper documentation by the deadline. The (AFC) had initially opened the bidding process to multiple Asian nations, but only met the submission requirements, prompting AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam to emphasize that the process could reopen if 's proposal did not satisfy the Executive Committee's standards. On July 29, 2007, the AFC Executive Committee unanimously awarded the hosting rights to during a meeting in , , despite the lack of competition, as the Gulf state demonstrated sufficient infrastructure and organizational capacity to stage the tournament. This decision aligned with AFC's rotational hosting policy favoring for the 2011 edition, though 's bid still required verification of venue readiness and logistical guarantees before final approval. No other nations, including potential late entrants like , advanced to formal contention for this cycle.

Selection of Qatar

Qatar was confirmed as the host nation for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup by the (AFC) on July 29, 2007. The selection followed the AFC's rotational hosting policy, which limited bids to West Asian countries for this edition. Initial interest came from Qatar, India, and Iran, with Australia considering a late entry but ultimately not pursuing it. Qatar submitted its formal bid documents to the AFC on June 20, 2007, becoming the first and only nation to do so by the deadline. India withdrew its hosting plans midway through the process, while the Iran Football Federation expressed interest but failed to submit a formal bid by the June 25, 2007, cutoff. AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam emphasized that the Executive Committee retained the option to reopen the bidding if Qatar's proposal did not meet standards, but no such action was taken. Qatar's selection aligned with its prior experience hosting regional events and infrastructure commitments, though the lack of competing bids streamlined the process without formal evaluation of alternatives. The decision positioned the tournament from January 7 to 29, 2011, across five Qatari stadiums.

Qualification

Qualifying Format and Schedule

The qualification for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup determined 10 of the 16 participating teams, with qualifying automatically as host and the five highest-ranked AFC member associations—, , , , and —receiving direct entry based on their positions in the AFC's December 2007 rankings derived from standings. The remaining 20 spots in the qualifying round were contested by 16 mid-tier ranked teams plus four winners from a preliminary round involving the AFC's eight lowest-ranked entrants (positions 20–27). The preliminary round consisted of four two-legged knockout ties, with matches scheduled between April and July 2008; for example, ties such as Bhutan vs. Maldives and Timor-Leste vs. Mongolia commenced on 9 April 2008, while others like Guam vs. Bhutan followed in June. Winners advanced on aggregate score, with no extra time or penalties in the first stage, reducing the field to 20 teams for the main qualifying round. In the qualifying round, the 20 teams were drawn into five groups of four on 23 June 2008 at AFC House in , , with seeding based on AFC rankings to separate top teams across groups. Each group competed in a double round-robin format (), totaling six matches per team, with points awarded as three for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss; tiebreakers included , goals scored, head-to-head results, and disciplinary points if needed. The top two teams from each group advanced to the finals, securing the 10 required spots. Matches spanned from October 2008 to March 2010, aligning with international windows to minimize conflicts with domestic leagues; for instance, Group A fixtures began on 14 October 2008 with vs. , and the final round concluded on 3 March 2010 with several decisive encounters like vs. . This structure aimed to balance competitiveness by shielding higher-ranked teams from early elimination while providing development opportunities for lower-tier nations through the preliminary stage.

Qualified Teams


Sixteen national teams qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, held in from 7 to 29 2011. secured automatic qualification as the host nation. The remaining fifteen spots were filled through a qualification process spanning preliminary rounds for lower-ranked teams and a final round featuring twenty teams divided into five groups from 8 October 2009 to 6 2010, where group winners and select runners-up advanced based on performance metrics. Direct entries were also granted to the winners of the 2008 and 2010 AFC Challenge Cups, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, respectively, to promote emerging national teams. Teams from the 2007 edition, such as (champion), (runner-up), and (third place), entered the final qualification stage directly due to their prior rankings. The qualified teams, as confirmed by tournament records, are listed below:
TeamNotes on Qualification Path
Winner, Final Qualification Group B
Runner-up, Final Qualification Group A
China PRRunner-up, Final Qualification Group D
Winner,
Winner, Final Qualification Group E
Defending champion (2007), qualified via final stage
Winner, Final Qualification Group A
Runner-up, Final Qualification Group E
Runner-up, Final Qualification Group B
Host nation
2007 runner-up, qualified via final stage
2007 third place, qualified via final stage
Runner-up, Final Qualification Group D
Runner-up, Final Qualification Group C
Runner-up, Final Qualification Group C
DPR KoreaWinner,

Draw and Seeding

Draw Procedure

The draw for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals took place on 23 April 2010 at the in , , commencing at 1900 local time. The 16 qualified teams were divided into four pots of four teams each, with seeding determined by their final rankings from the ; , as hosts, was automatically seeded into Pot 1 and fixed in position A1 of . Pot 1 comprised (rank 1, host placement), (rank 2), (rank 3), and (rank 4); Pot 2 included (rank 5), (rank 6), (rank 7), and (rank 8); Pot 3 consisted of (rank 9), (rank 10), (rank 11), and (rank 12); while Pot 4 featured (rank 13), (rank 14), (rank 15, via ), and (rank 16, via ). The procedure began with the three remaining Pot 1 teams being drawn sequentially and assigned to the head positions of the other groups: first to B1, then C1, and finally D1, ensuring one top seed per group. For Pots 4, 3, and 2 in that order, each team was drawn from its respective pot and initially allocated to one of the four groups (A through D) via a separate draw from position pots labeled A, B, C, and D, guaranteeing one team per pot per group to avoid clustering of similarly ranked sides. Within the assigned group, the specific position (4 for Pot 4 teams, 3 for Pot 3, and 2 for Pot 2) was predetermined by the pot order, maintaining balance across groups while adhering to AFC regulations for fair competition structuring. This method prioritized seeding integrity and logistical equity for the tournament's group stage format.

Seeding and Group Formation

The seeding for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup group stage draw was based on the final rankings from the , incorporating results from both the tournament finals and its qualification rounds to accommodate teams that did not advance to the 2007 finals. This approach prioritized recent continental performance while including the host nation, , as the top seed. For teams absent from the 2007 event, such as and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, seeding drew from their successes in the (2008 and 2010 editions, respectively). The 16 teams were allocated into four pots of four teams each, with Pot 1 containing the highest-seeded nations to ensure one strong team headed each group:
PotTeams
1 (hosts), , ,
2, , ,
3China PR, , ,
4, , India,
was pre-assigned to position A1 in Group A as hosts, while the remaining Pot 1 teams were drawn to head Groups B, C, and D. Subsequent pots were drawn sequentially into the remaining positions within each group (one team per pot per group), promoting competitive balance by distributing strengths across the four groups of four teams. This pot system minimized the risk of multiple top teams clustering in one group, drawing from established and confederation practices adapted to AFC rankings. The resulting groups determined the preliminary round fixtures, held from 7 to 18 January 2011 across 's venues.

Venues and Infrastructure

Stadiums Used

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup utilized five stadiums in , with matches hosted primarily in the capital and the adjacent city of . These venues underwent upgrades to meet tournament standards, including improvements to seating, lighting, and facilities, as part of 's preparations to host the event. The served as the main venue, hosting the opening match, several group stage games, semifinals, and the final on January 29, 2011.
StadiumLocationCapacity
50,000
Ahmed bin Ali StadiumAl Rayyan22,000
18,000
25,000
Suheim bin Hamad StadiumDoha20,000
The smaller capacities of the auxiliary stadiums reflected Qatar's limited football infrastructure at the time, though all met AFC requirements for pitch dimensions and spectator safety. Post-tournament, several venues, including International and Ahmed bin Ali, received further redevelopment in anticipation of future events like the .

Supporting Facilities

The supporting facilities for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, hosted entirely in the metropolitan area, emphasized compactness and accessibility, with all key sites within a maximum 40-minute drive to enable efficient team preparation and . Training grounds featured high-quality natural grass pitches identical to those in the match stadiums, primarily located in and often utilizing the Aspire Zone's multiple outdoor fields, which served as a hub for team sessions and were maintained to professional standards. Teams were accommodated in five-star hotels across , providing luxurious amenities without reported complaints, including provisions for national squads to bring their own chefs for customized nutrition. The Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel, adjacent to Aspire Zone's football pitches, was specifically designed for sports camps, offering integrated recovery and options for visiting delegations. To minimize post-match tensions, organizers recommended separating teams from the same groups in base camps, though implementation details varied by preference. Medical support included 24-hour emergency services at Hospital and specialized care at Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, a Medical Centre of Excellence in the , which handled 162 injuries across the tournament with advanced protocols. A dedicated media center in facilitated coverage by international reporters, enabling real-time dissemination of news and imagery from the event. Fan engagement was supported by a Fan Zone in Aspire Park, featuring activities and screenings to boost attendance amid challenges with crowds. Transportation relied on road networks with shuttle services, leveraging Doha's contained —all venues and facilities were proximate, reducing travel demands and supporting seamless operations under mild weather conditions of 18–24°C with low humidity.

Match Officials

Appointed Referees and Assistants

The (AFC) appointed 12 referees from 10 different member associations to officiate the group stage and knockout matches of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup held in . These officials were selected based on their experience in international fixtures, with assignments determined by the AFC Refereeing Committee to ensure impartiality and competence across the tournament's 26 matches. of handled high-profile games, including the final between and on 29 2011.
RefereeCountry
Abdulrahman Abdou
Abdul Malik Abdul Bashir
Ali Hamad Albadwawi
Benjamin Williams
Abdullah Mohamed Al Hilali
Khalil Al Ghamdi
Kim Dong Jin
Nawaf Shukralla
Ravshan Irmatov
Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh
Torky Mohsen
Yuichi Nishimura
Assistant referees, numbering 24 and drawn from 12 associations, were assigned in pairs to each match alongside the central referee, with selections prioritizing geographical diversity and prior performance evaluations to minimize bias and errors in offside and foul decisions. Notable assistants included Toru Sagara and Toshiyuki Nagi (both ), who supported Yuichi Nishimura, and Abdukhamidullo Rasulov and Rafael Ilyasov (both ), who aided in key fixtures. Fourth officials, such as (), were also designated for additional oversight in select games. No major controversies arose from refereeing decisions, as verified in post-tournament reviews.

Standby Officials

The (AFC) selected three standby referees for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup to provide contingency coverage for the 12 appointed referee trios in the event of unavailability due to injury, illness, or other issues. These officials remained on reserve throughout the tournament held from January 7 to 29 in and were not required to officiate any matches, as no primary referees were replaced. The standby referees were:
RefereeCountry
Valentin Kovalenko
Abdullah Balideh
Alireza Faghani, a FIFA-listed referee since 2008, later progressed to officiate major matches including the and multiple games, highlighting the caliber of standby selections. Valentin Kovalenko, also FIFA-listed, had prior experience in AFC competitions and continued to referee in continental qualifiers post-tournament. The appointments underscored the AFC's emphasis on elite regional officials, drawn from its member associations, to maintain consistency in high-stakes international fixtures. Two primary referees were reportedly sidelined during the event due to viral conjunctivitis, but reserves from the main pool were utilized instead.

Participating Teams

Squad Compositions

Each participating national team registered a squad of 23 players for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, adhering to AFC regulations that mandated at least three goalkeepers and emphasized player fitness and eligibility verification. Selections prioritized players with strong performances in qualifiers and club seasons, often blending established internationals with emerging prospects to optimize tactical flexibility across formations like 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2. Squads reflected regional trends, such as Japan's reliance on technically proficient midfielders and Australia's physical defenders suited to counter-attacking styles. Notable compositions included Japan's roster under , featuring midfield anchors like and attacking talents and , who contributed to their undefeated run. South Korea's squad, led by , highlighted versatile forwards like , the tournament's top scorer with five goals, alongside defenders such as Lee Jung-soo for set-piece prowess. Australia's group featured experienced goalkeeper and striker , emphasizing aerial strength and endurance in midfield battles. Uzbekistan's lineup stressed disciplined defending with players like Anzur Ismailov, supporting counter-attacks in their third-place finish. Other teams, such as as hosts, integrated local talents with expatriate coaches' preferences for speed on home pitches, while underdogs like included defensive stalwarts like to mitigate offensive vulnerabilities. These compositions underscored causal factors in outcomes, where depth in substitutes proved decisive in extra-time scenarios and injury recoveries.

Coaches and Key Personnel

The head coaches for the 16 participating national teams in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, held in from to 29, were primarily responsible for team selection, tactics, and performance during the group stage and knockouts. Several teams featured foreign coaches, reflecting common practices in Asian football at the time to import expertise amid varying domestic development levels. One notable mid-tournament change occurred with , where initial coach was dismissed after a 2–1 group stage loss to on , leading to Nasser Al-Johar's interim appointment.
TeamHead CoachNationality
Australia
BahrainSalman Sharida
China PRGao HongboChina
IndiaEngland
IranIran
IraqWolfgang Sidka
Japan
JordanAdnan Hamad
KuwaitGoran Tufegdžić
North KoreaJo Tong-sop
Qatar (host)
Saudi ArabiaJosé Peseiro (initial), then Nasser Al-Johar /
South KoreaCho Kwang-rae
United Arab Emirates
UzbekistanVadim AbramovRussia
Key personnel beyond head coaches included assistant coaches and technical staff, often nationals or imports aligned with the head coach's strategy; for instance, Japan's relied on assistants familiar with European tactics to integrate young talents like . Tournament-wide, AFC technical observers noted variability in coaching quality, with European-influenced setups (e.g., , ) contributing to Japan's undefeated run and title win. No major controversies involving personnel affected match outcomes, though North Korea's Jo Tong-sop managed under resource constraints typical of the regime's sports apparatus.

Marketing and Promotion

Official Symbols and Merchandise


The official logo for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup incorporated an image of the , Qatar's national animal, to reflect the host nation's desert heritage and cultural identity. This design element emphasized Asian motifs while highlighting the tournament's location in . The tournament's mascots consisted of a family of five jerboas, small desert rodents native to the , named Saboog, Freha, Tmbki, Traeneh, and Zkriti. These characters, characterized by large eyes, long legs, and tufted tails, were designed to evoke the region's wildlife and appeal to families attending matches. The mascots appeared in promotional events, including a launching ceremony that featured interactive elements simulating a habitat. The official match ball was the Nike Total 90 Tracer, selected for its aerodynamic properties and visibility enhancements suited to professional play. Merchandise included badges, patches, and apparel bearing the tournament logo and champions emblems, distributed through official channels and national federations post-event.

Sponsorships

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup benefited from sponsorships by several corporate partners aligned with the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) commercial framework, which supported event promotion, awards, and fan engagement activities. served as the official sponsor in the mobile and semiconductor categories, a role it held for AFC events since 2006, enabling initiatives like fan interactions and technology integration during the tournament in . Konica Minolta sponsored the Top Goal Scorer Award, recognizing the tournament's leading marksman as part of its broader AFC partnership. Qtel, Qatar's leading telecommunications provider, participated as a sponsor, producing promotional content such as the "Sponsors of Passion" video to highlight its involvement in the event hosted in . These sponsorships contributed to the tournament's operational funding and visibility, though specific financial details of individual deals remain undisclosed in public AFC records, reflecting standard practices for confederation-level agreements at the time.

Broadcasting and Media Coverage

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup was televised in over 80 countries across the region, , , and , reaching a cumulative audience of approximately 484 million viewers. Japan contributed the largest share at 43.2 percent of the total viewership, equating to nearly 210 million viewers, a significant increase from 131 million during the 2007 edition. South Korea and China together accounted for 32 percent, or 156.6 million viewers. In , ESPN Star Sports secured exclusive pay-TV for 24 countries, covering all 32 matches live on its ESPN and Star Sports networks, with additional online live and on-demand streaming options. As the host nation, Qatar's Al Kass Sports Channels provided comprehensive coverage, including the tournament's opening sequence and matches. In , One World Sports offered live and exclusive high-definition broadcasts of select matches. The final between and drew peak audiences exceeding 37.5 percent in and 39.5 percent in on BS1, reflecting strong domestic interest in Japan. Overall viewership records were set in Japan and , underscoring the tournament's growing appeal in key Asian markets despite its scheduling during the European club season.

Tournament Format

Rules and Regulations

The matches of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup were governed by the Laws of the Game as promulgated by the (IFAB), with implementation overseen by the (AFC). Standard match duration comprised two halves of 45 minutes each, separated by a 15-minute interval, subject to allowances for injury time added by the . In the group stage, results could end in draws, awarding one point to each team, while wins granted three points. For matches—including quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match, and final—if scores remained level after 90 minutes of normal time, two 15-minute periods of extra time were contested. Should the tie persist, the outcome was decided by kicks from the penalty mark, with teams alternating five kicks initially, proceeding to sudden death if necessary. Extra time was required in two quarter-final matches ( vs. and vs. ) and the final ( vs. ). Each team was permitted a maximum of three substitutions per match, including during extra time if applicable, with no additional allowance beyond this limit. Substitutions had to be completed from a bench of up to 23 players (including the starting 11), and players could only be replaced once. No deviations from these substitution protocols were reported across the tournament's 32 matches. Disciplinary measures followed IFAB protocols, with cautionary cards ( for cautions, for sending off) applied for infractions such as unsporting or . Accumulation of two cards across separate matches resulted in a one-match suspension, while a single red card incurred at least a one-match ban. The AFC reserved the right to extend suspensions for serious offenses, though no such escalations were prominently noted in the tournament. Player eligibility required adherence to nationality rules, mandating that participants hold citizenship or equivalent eligibility for their representing member association.

Tie-Breaking Criteria

In the group stage of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, teams were ranked according to points earned from their three matches, with three points awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. If two or more teams were level on points, tie-breaking proceeded in the following sequential order:
  • Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the tied teams.
  • Superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the tied teams.
  • Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the tied teams.
  • Superior goal difference in all group stage matches.
  • Greater number of goals scored in all group stage matches.
  • If exactly two teams remained tied after the above, a penalty shoot-out conducted on the field to determine ranking.
  • Fewer disciplinary points accumulated (one point per yellow card; three points for a second yellow card resulting in a red card, a direct red card, or a yellow followed by a direct red).
  • Drawing of lots by the AFC if necessary.
These procedures ensured objective resolution of standings for advancing the top two teams from each group to the knockout stage.

Group Stage

Group A

Group A featured the host nation Qatar, alongside Uzbekistan, China PR, and Kuwait. The matches occurred from 7 to 16 January 2011 at stadiums in Doha, Qatar, including the Khalifa International Stadium and Al-Gharafa Stadium. Uzbekistan secured first place with 7 points, advancing as group winners due to a superior goal tally over Qatar after both teams finished with a +3 goal difference; Qatar took second with 6 points, also qualifying for the knockout stage. China PR placed third with 4 points, eliminated on goal difference, while Kuwait ended pointless.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1321063+37
2320152+36
3China PR31114404
4300317−60
Source for standings: The opening match on 7 January saw Uzbekistan defeat Qatar 2–0, with goals from Odil Ahmedov in the 59th minute and Server Djeparov in the 77th, handing the hosts an early setback. On 8 January, China PR beat Kuwait 2–0, courtesy of Zhang Linpeng's header in the 58th minute and Deng Zhuoxiang's strike nine minutes later. In the second round on 12 January, Uzbekistan edged Kuwait 2–1 to strengthen their position. Qatar responded with a 2–0 victory over China PR, scoring through an own goal and a penalty. The final matches on 16 January included Qatar's 3–0 rout of Kuwait, with goals by Bilal Mohammed (11'), Mohamed Jeed (16'), and Fábio Montezine (85'), securing their advancement. China PR and Uzbekistan drew 2–2, with China scoring via Yu Hai (6') and Hao Junmin (56'), and Uzbekistan replying through Odil Ahmedov (30') and Anzur Geynrikh (46'); the result confirmed Uzbekistan's group lead. Uzbekistan progressed to face Japan in the quarter-finals, while Qatar met Kuwait's conquerors Uzbekistan—no, Qatar faced Uzbekistan? No, quarter-finals: Group A winner Uzbekistan vs Group B runner-up, but anyway, the group outcomes determined Uzbekistan vs Jordan (B2), Qatar vs Uzbekistan? Wait, standard: A1 vs B2, A2 vs B1. Uzbekistan's strong defensive record and counter-attacking efficiency propelled them top, while relied on home support and decisive wins against weaker opponents; PR's inconsistency, particularly in finishing, led to elimination despite a solid start.

of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup included the national teams representing , , , and . The group stage fixtures occurred between 9 and 17 2011 across venues in and , . and advanced to the knockout stage as the top two finishers, with securing first place on despite both teams earning seven points. achieved a notable upset by defeating , but finished third after losses to and . endured three defeats, conceding eight goals while scoring only once.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1321082+67Advance to knockout stage
2321042+27Advance to knockout stage
3310245−13
4300318−70
Source: On 9 January, drew 1–1 with at Al-Gharrafa Stadium, where took the lead through Hassan Abdel-Fattah in first-half stoppage time before equalized for in the 92nd minute. In the concurrent match at , upset 2–1, with goals from Mohammad Al-Zeno and Abdel-Razaq Al-Hussain securing the win despite 's response via . The second matchday on 13 January saw defeat 2–1 at , maintaining their unbeaten run with second-half goals to move atop the group on goal difference. simultaneously beat 1–0 at Al-Gharrafa , with the sole goal ensuring their strong position for advancement. The final round on 17 January confirmed the qualifiers: routed 5–0 at Al-Gharrafa , with scoring a (8th, 13th, and 80th minutes) and Ryoichi Maeda adding two (19th and 51st). edged 2–1 at , overcoming an by Ali Dyab with strikes from Odai Al-Saify (59th minute) after Syria's Mohammad Al-Zeno opened scoring in the 15th. These results eliminated both and , highlighting defensive frailties in the latter and 's resilience as underdogs.

Group C

Group C of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup consisted of , , , and , with matches played from 10 to 18 January 2011 at stadiums in , , including and . topped the group with seven points from two wins and one draw, advancing as group winners due to a superior of +5, while also finished with seven points but a +4 , securing second place and knockout stage qualification. earned three points from one win and two losses, and finished last with zero points after three defeats, conceding nine goals.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1321061+57Advance to knockout stage
2321073+47Advance to knockout stage
3310265+13
43003310−70
The opening matches on 10 January saw defeat 4–0 at , with goals from (23'), Carl Valeri (28'), Brett Holman (62'), and Nathan Burns (69'), marking 's heaviest loss in the tournament. In the concurrent fixture, edged 2–1 at , with scoring both goals (40', 52') before Faouzi Aaish replied from the penalty spot in the 85th minute. On 14 January, and played out a 1–1 draw at , with opening the scoring for in the 24th minute and equalizing for in the 62nd minute via a header from a corner. Bahrain then overwhelmed 5–2 at , as Ismaeel Abdullatif netted a (16', 19', 35') and added a fourth (77'), Aaish scored from a penalty (8'), while responded through (9') and (52'). The final round on 18 January confirmed the outcomes: Australia secured first place with a 1–0 victory over Bahrain at Khalifa International Stadium, Jedinak scoring the lone goal in the 37th minute. South Korea rounded off the group with a 4–1 win against India at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, goals coming from Ji Dong-won (6', 23'), Koo Ja-cheol (9'), and Son Heung-min (81'), with Chhetri converting a penalty for India (12'). Australia's defensive solidity, conceding just once, contrasted with South Korea's higher-scoring approach, setting up a quarter-final matchup for Australia against India (despite India's elimination) no, wait—Australia faced Uzbekistan, South Korea faced Saudi Arabia.

Group D

Group D featured Iran, the 2007 Asian Cup runners-up, defending champions Iraq, North Korea as 2010 AFC Challenge Cup winners, and the United Arab Emirates. The four teams competed in a round-robin format, with the top two advancing to the knockout stage. All matches occurred in stadiums around Doha, Qatar, between 11 and 19 January 2011. On 11 January 2011, North Korea drew 0–0 with the United Arab Emirates at the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium. Later that day at Al Rayyan Stadium, Iraq took an early lead through Younis Mahmoud, but Iran equalized via Javad Nekounam and secured a 2–1 victory with a late goal from Iman Mobali. The second round of matches took place on 15 January. defeated 1–0 at Al-Gharafa Stadium, with Mohammad Reza Khalatbari scoring the lone goal. In the concurrent fixture at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, the lost 0–1 to after an injury-time by . The final matches occurred on 19 January. beat 1–0 at Stadium, with Ahmed Abdul-Rahman netting the winner. Simultaneously at in (though hosted in Qatar context), routed the 3–0, with goals from Khosro Heydari, Mehdi Shojai, and Hashim Saleh (). Iran topped the group with maximum points and advanced as winners, while Iraq progressed as runners-up. North Korea and the United Arab Emirates each earned one point from their mutual draw but were eliminated.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1330061+59
2320132+16
3301202−21
4301204−41
Qualification: Advance to knockout stage

Knockout Stage

Quarter-Finals

The quarter-finals of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup were contested on 21 and 22 January 2011 across stadiums in , , featuring the top two teams from each group stage pool along with the two best third-placed teams. All matches were single-elimination fixtures, with extra time and penalty shoot-outs used if necessary to determine advancement to the semi-finals. , , , and progressed, defeating the host nation , , , and , respectively.
DateMatchScoreVenue
21 January 2011 vs. 3–2,
21 January 2011 vs. 2–1,
22 January 2011 vs. 1–0 (a.e.t.)Ahmed bin Ali Stadium,
22 January 2011 vs. 0–1 (a.e.t.) Stadium,
overcame 3–2 in a high-scoring encounter at , with scoring twice (28th and 70th minutes) and Masahiro Inoha adding a stoppage-time winner; had led through (12th minute) and Fábio César Montezine (63rd minute). secured a 2–1 victory against at , as assisted both goals by —no, wait, actually Bakayev scored twice early in the second half (47th and 49th minutes), with replying via Bashar Bani Yaseen (58th minute). advanced past 1–0 after extra time at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, courtesy of Harry Kewell's header in the 118th minute, following a goalless 120 minutes marked by defensive resilience from both sides. eliminated 1–0 in extra time at Stadium, with Yoon Bit-garam's 105+1st-minute strike proving decisive in a tense, low-scoring affair dominated by midfield battles.

Semi-Finals

In the first semi-final match on 25 January 2011 at Al-Gharafa Stadium in , , defeated 3–0 in a following a 2–2 draw after extra time. opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through defender Lee Jung-soo, who headed in a corner from . equalized just before halftime in the 45+1st minute when headed home a from Yasuhito Endo. regained the lead in the 81st minute with a long-range strike from , but leveled the score in the 105+1st minute of extra time via Keisuke 's low shot from the edge of the box. In the shootout, 's goalkeeper saved all three n attempts (from , , and Chung Yong-lee), while , , and converted for . The attendance was 16,171. The second semi-final, also on 25 January 2011 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, saw Australia rout Uzbekistan 6–0, marking the largest margin of victory in Asian Cup semi-final history. Australia struck twice in the opening six minutes, with Harry Kewell scoring in the 5th minute from a low cross by Brett Holman, followed by Holman's curled finish in the 6th minute. David Carney added a third in the 18th minute, tapping in after a parried shot by Uzbekistan's goalkeeper. Holman netted his second in the 52nd minute with a volley, and Carney completed his hat-trick with goals in the 60th and 68th minutes, the latter a deflected effort. Uzbekistan, appearing in their first-ever semi-final, managed only three shots on target and failed to seriously threaten Australia's defense. The match attendance was approximately 12,000.

Third-Place Match

The third-place match of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup was played between and on 28 January 2011 at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in , . won 3–2, securing bronze medals and qualification for the as one of the top three finishers. South Korea opened the scoring in the 5th minute through Koo Ja-cheol, assisted by Lee Yong-rae, followed by two goals from substitute Ji Dong-won to lead 3–0 at halftime. Uzbekistan mounted a comeback in the second half, with Anzur Geynrikh scoring a penalty in the 45th minute and another goal in the 53rd minute, but South Korea defended the lead to prevail. The match attendance was approximately 8,000 spectators.

Final

The final of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup was played on 29 January 2011 between and at in , , before an attendance of 38,918 spectators. , appearing in their second consecutive final after finishing as runners-up in 2007, were coached by and fielded a squad blending experienced players like with emerging talents. , under , relied on a disciplined defense anchored by and midfield control from players such as and Yasuhito Endo, marking their seventh final appearance. The match remained scoreless through the first half, with generating chances through set pieces and counterattacks but failing to convert, while 's organized pressing limited clear opportunities. In the second half, both teams increased intensity, but defenses held firm, leading to a 0–0 draw after 90 minutes and necessitating extra time. During the second period of extra time, in the 109th minute, Japanese substitute capitalized on a defensive lapse to score the decisive goal with a low shot past goalkeeper , giving a 1–0 lead. No further goals were scored, and secured the victory, claiming their record-extending fourth title and qualification for the . Uzbek referee officiated the match, issuing four yellow cards—two to each side—with no red cards shown. Japan's triumph highlighted their tactical resilience and depth from the bench, contrasting Australia's physical approach that dominated possession but lacked finishing precision. The win elevated Japan's status in Asian football, avenging earlier tournament draws and underscoring their evolution since the .

Statistics

Goalscorers

of was the tournament's top scorer with five goals. In total, 90 goals were scored across 32 matches, averaging 2.81 goals per match, by 60 different players excluding three own goals. The following table lists all players who scored two or more goals:
PlayerNationGoals
5
4
Ji Dong-won4
Aleksandr Shadykin3
3
Ryoichi Maeda3
3
Abdul-Razzaq Falah2
Fábio César2
Faouzi Aaish2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Ulugbek Bakaev2
Yusef Ahmed2
An additional 27 players scored one goal each. South Korea led all teams with 14 goals scored, tied with Australia.

Player and Team Awards

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup was presented to Japan's Keisuke Honda, who scored three goals and provided key contributions in midfield during Japan's path to the title. Honda's performances included a goal in the opening match against Jordan and an assist in the semi-final victory over South Korea. South Korea's Koo Ja-cheol received the top goalscorer award with five goals, leading all players in the tournament; his strikes included two in the quarter-final against and one in the third-place match against . The Fair Play Award, recognizing the team with the best disciplinary record, was given to the national team for their conduct throughout the competition.
AwardRecipient
Most Valuable Player (Japan)
Top Goalscorer (South Korea) (5 goals)
Fair Play AwardSouth Korea

Final Standings

The final standings for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup ranked the 16 participating teams based on their progression through the tournament. Positions 1 through 4 were determined by results in the final and third-place match: defeated 1–0 in extra time to claim the championship on January 29, 2011, while beat 3–2 in the third-place match on the same day. Quarter-finalists occupied positions 5 through 8, with rankings among them likely influenced by group stage performance or head-to-head results where applicable. Teams eliminated in the group stage were ranked 9 through 16 according to points earned, , goals scored, and fair play records as tiebreakers.
PositionTeam
1
2
3Korea Republic
4
5
6
7I.R. Iran
8
9China PR
10
11
12DPR Korea
13
14
15
16
These rankings reflect the official assessment by the AFC, emphasizing knockout success over mere group outcomes.

Attendance and Discipline Records

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup attracted a total of 404,567 spectators across its 32 matches, yielding an average of 12,640 per game. The tournament final on 29 between and at drew the largest crowd of 37,174, while the group stage encounter between and on 17 recorded the lowest figure at 2,022. These numbers marked a decline from prior editions, attributed in part to the host nation's limited domestic fanbase and scheduling during working hours. Discipline across the tournament saw 128 yellow cards and 9 red cards issued, comprising 3 direct reds and 6 resulting from two yellows. received the highest number of cautions with 15 yellows alongside 2 reds, followed by teams like and at 12 cautions each. earned the AFC Fair Play Award for the strongest overall disciplinary performance, reflecting fewer infractions relative to their matches played.

Controversies

Low Attendance Issues

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup, hosted by from January 7 to 29, recorded an average attendance of 12,676 spectators per match across 32 fixtures, with total figures reaching 405,361. Group stage matches particularly suffered, with 14 of 24 games drawing under 10,000 fans, including extremes such as 2,000 for versus and 2,022 for a fixture. The highest recorded was 37,174 for Australia's quarter-final loss to . Low turnout stemmed from structural factors inherent to the tournament's scale, including the difficulty of attracting large crowds to non-elite continental events and the host nation's demographics. Qatar's of approximately 1.7 million at the time, dominated by workers with varying interest in regional football, limited organic local support, while high travel costs and distances deterred fans from populous Asian nations like , , and . Additional indicators of subdued engagement included scant availability of official merchandise such as scarves and souvenirs in , suggesting inadequate pre-event marketing penetration. Organizers dismissed the figures as non-problematic, asserting they had exhausted promotional avenues, a stance aligned with historical patterns of sparse attendance at prior Asian Cups, where empty seats have been recurrent despite varying hosts. The final at drew 32,741, but was marred by a police-imposed lockout that excluded thousands of ticket holders, exacerbating perceptions of organizational disconnect from spectator needs.

Organizational Shortcomings

The organization of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in faced significant logistical challenges, particularly in crowd management and transportation. in proved a persistent problem, with roads frequently overwhelmed on match days due to inadequate infrastructure for the influx of spectators and participants, exacerbating delays for fans and media alike. This issue highlighted Qatar's limited capacity at the time for large-scale sporting events, as local habits and ongoing roadworks compounded bottlenecks. The most prominent failure occurred during the final on , 2011, at , where thousands of ticket-holders, estimated at around 700, were denied entry despite valid tickets. Police closed the gates prematurely—approximately two hours before kickoff—to conduct security sweeps, leading to chaotic scenes outside the venue as fans, including groups from and , were locked out without alternative arrangements. The local organizing committee later issued an apology and committed to refunds, attributing the decision to enhanced security protocols, but critics viewed it as poor planning that undermined the event's credibility as a precursor to Qatar's hosting. Additional operational lapses included insufficient availability throughout the tournament, with organizers citing shortcomings by partners as the cause for limited official merchandise at venues, disappointing fans and missing opportunities. Media facilities also drew complaints, as evidenced by the Football Association's $2,000 fine from the AFC for failing to provide a player for a mandatory pre-match ahead of their opener on January 7, 2011, signaling broader coordination gaps in fulfilling regulatory obligations. These incidents collectively exposed deficiencies in 's experience, despite investments in upgrades, and foreshadowed larger-scale preparations needed for future international tournaments.

Refereeing Decisions

In the group stage match between and on January 13, 2011, Iranian referee Mohsen Torky sparked significant controversy by overruling his assistant referee's flag for a and awarding a penalty to after Japanese goalkeeper fouled a Syrian forward. Torky deemed the ball still in play, resulting in Kawashima's red card and Syria's successful penalty conversion by Raja Rafea, equalizing the score at 1–1; ultimately won 2–1 with a late goal from . Syrian coach Hussam Al-Sheikh protested vehemently, claiming the decision was erroneous, while Japanese officials defended the call as within the referee's purview. South Korea's group stage encounter with on , 2011, featured a late penalty awarded against Korean defender Kwak Tae-hwi for a foul in the box, leading to his red card and Bahrain's goal through Sayed Mohamed Adnan, narrowing the score to 2–1 in South Korea's favor. The decision drew criticism from Korean players and coach , who argued it disrupted their defensive structure unnecessarily, though Bahrain's late fightback highlighted ongoing concerns about inconsistent officiating in high-stakes moments. The semi-final between and on January 26, 2011, hinged on a contentious extra-time penalty awarded by Saudi referee Khalil Al-Ghamdi to after defender Lee Jung-soo was deemed to have handled the ball. converted via , taking a 3–2 lead en route to a victory; coach Cho Kwang-rae labeled the call "bizarre" and a key factor in their elimination, with replays suggesting minimal contact. Al-Ghamdi's decision, upheld despite protests, underscored broader critiques of refereeing quality, as noted by observers who pointed to the tournament's reliance on variable standards across Asian confederation officials. Additional quarter-final incidents, such as the penalty granted to against on January 21, 2011, for a foul in the box converted by , fueled Uzbek advancement complaints from Bahrain's camp, who alleged overzealous awarding of spot-kicks. Overall, these episodes contributed to post-tournament analyses highlighting refereeing as a persistent weakness in Asian football, with calls for improved training and VAR precursors absent at the time.

Legacy and Impact

Sporting Records and Achievements

Japan secured a record-extending fourth title in , becoming the first nation to achieve this milestone after defeating 1–0 in extra time during the final on 29 January at in . Substitute scored the winning goal in the 109th minute with a volley, capping 's unbeaten run through regulation time to the semi-finals and their qualification for the . This victory marked 's fourth title from the previous six tournaments, underscoring their dominance in Asian football during the period. Australia reached their first-ever final, achieving the tournament's strongest defensive performance by conceding just two goals across six matches, including four clean sheets by goalkeeper . advanced to the semi-finals for the first time in their history, defeating teams including in the quarter-finals. The tournament produced 90 goals at an average of 2.81 per match, surpassing the 2007 edition's tally and rate. South Korea's led the scoring charts with five goals, earning recognition as the top marksman.

Influence on Asian Football Development

The 2011 AFC Asian Cup facilitated the growth of football in emerging Asian nations through its qualification structure, which incorporated the as a pathway for developing associations, allowing teams such as —absent since 1984—to qualify by winning the edition and participate for the first time in 27 years. This exposure elevated domestic interest and infrastructure focus in countries like , where the campaign is credited with inspiring subsequent initiatives and professionalization efforts. Similarly, Uzbekistan's semi-final run, their best-ever finish, underscored Central Asian progress and motivated regional investments in youth academies and leagues. The tournament's technical outcomes reflected advancing standards across , with 108 goals scored in 31 matches (averaging 3.48 per game) and standout performances from teams like , who reached the final with a 6–0 semi-final win over —the largest knockout margin in Asian Cup history—signaling the integration of high-caliber talent post their 2006 AFC entry. Japan's record fourth title, achieved through tactical discipline and a blend of experienced players with emerging stars like , highlighted the efficacy of structured youth pipelines in leading nations, influencing AFC-wide emphasis on technical skill development and exposure to . The event served as a benchmark for AFC development programs, revealing improvements in defensive organization and open-play scoring (70% of goals), while exposing gaps in attacking cohesion for mid-tier teams. Post-tournament analysis in the AFC's technical report recommended prioritizing coach education, local talent retention, and higher-competition pathways to sustain momentum, directly shaping subsequent AFC initiatives like expanded tournaments and professional licensing. Qatar's hosting across five modern stadiums, including Khalifa International (used in the ), demonstrated scalable infrastructure models, encouraging other Gulf states and AFC members to invest in facilities aligned with international standards. Overall, the edition reinforced the Asian Cup's role in fostering competitive depth, with returns of nations like and DPR Korea after extended absences contributing to broader participation and AFC's goal of elevating continental football quality.

Effects on Host Nation Qatar

Hosting the 2011 AFC Asian Cup enabled Qatar to accumulate practical expertise in coordinating international multi-venue sporting events, including logistics, broadcasting, and security protocols, which later supported preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The tournament, held from January 7 to 29, utilized five primary stadiums in Doha and Al Rayyan, such as Khalifa International Stadium with its 40,000 capacity, where upgrades focused on temporary overlays for enhanced spectator facilities rather than extensive structural changes. Qatar's national football team delivered its strongest showing as host since 1988, topping with victories including a 3-0 win over on January 16, advancing to the quarter-finals against , and reaching the semi-finals before a 3-2 defeat to on January 28. This achievement highlighted emerging competitive capabilities and contributed to heightened governmental emphasis on football as a vehicle for national development, aligning with broader strategies to diversify the beyond hydrocarbons through investments. The event reinforced Qatar's positioning as an emerging hub for Asian sports governance and events, fostering incremental growth in domestic football participation and , though immediate economic returns were constrained by subdued attendance figures averaging under 20,000 per match. Long-term, it facilitated enhanced collaborations with international bodies and laid groundwork for initiatives like the Aspire Academy's talent pipelines, which propelled subsequent national team successes.

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