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2007 AFC Asian Cup
2007 AFC Asian Cup
2007 AFC Asian Cup
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2007 AFC Asian Cup
  • Piala Asia 2007
  • เอเชียนคัพ 2550
  • Cúp bóng đá châu Á 2007
Tournament details
Host countriesIndonesia
Malaysia
Thailand
Vietnam
Dates7–29 July 2007
Teams16 (from 1 confederation)
Venue8 (in 7 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Iraq (1st title)
Runners-up Saudi Arabia
Third place South Korea
Fourth place Japan
Tournament statistics
Matches played32
Goals scored84 (2.63 per match)
Attendance724,222 (22,632 per match)
Top scorer(s)Iraq Younis Mahmoud
Japan Naohiro Takahara
Saudi Arabia Yasser Al-Qahtani
(4 goals each)
Best playerIraq Younis Mahmoud[1]
Best goalkeeperIraq Noor Sabri[1]
Fair play award Japan[1]
← 2004
2011 →

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup was the 14th edition of the men's AFC Asian Cup, a quadrennial international football tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The finals were held from 7 to 29 July 2007. For the first time in its history, the competition was co-hosted by four countries in Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam; it was the first time in football history that more than two countries joined as hosts of a major continental competition and the only one to have ever taken place until UEFA Euro 2020.

Iraq won the continental title for the first time after defeating three-time champion Saudi Arabia 1–0 in the final. As the winner, Iraq represented the AFC in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Before 2007, Asia held its continental tournament every four years from 1956 until 2004. With the Summer Olympic Games and the European Football Championship also held in the same year as the Asian Cup, the AFC changed their tradition. From 2007, AFC decided to hold its continental tournament a year earlier, and every four years henceforth from that date.

An estimated worldwide television audience of 650 million people tuned in to watch the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.[2]

Australia participated for the first time since moving to the AFC from the OFC. Australia also happened to be the tournament's first nation aside from the co-hosts to qualify for the 2007 Asian Cup.

Venues

[edit]
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
1100km
684miles
7
7 Ho Chi Minh City
7 Ho Chi Minh City
6
6 Hanoi
6 Hanoi
5
5 Bangkok
5 Bangkok
4
4 Shah Alam
4 Shah Alam
3
3 Kuala Lumpur
3 Kuala Lumpur
2
2 Palembang
2 Palembang
1
1 Jakarta
1 Jakarta
Location of the host cities of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup
1
Jakarta
2
Palembang
3
Kuala Lumpur
4
Shah Alam
5
Bangkok
6
Hanoi
7
Ho Chi Minh City

Since the tournament, the Shah Alam Stadium has been demolished. The Rajamangala Stadium, the Mỹ Đình National Stadium, the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, the Bukit Jalil National Stadium and the Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium have all been moderately or heavily modified. The Supachalasai Stadium and the Army Stadium are the only largely unmodified stadiums used for this tournament.

City Stadium Capacity
Thailand Bangkok Rajamangala Stadium 49,722
Supachalasai Stadium 19,793
Vietnam Hanoi Mỹ Đình National Stadium 40,192
Vietnam Ho Chi Minh City Army Stadium 25,000
Indonesia Jakarta Gelora Bung Karno Stadium 88,083
Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Bukit Jalil National Stadium 87,411
Indonesia Palembang Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium 30,000
Malaysia Shah Alam Shah Alam Stadium 80,372

Qualification

[edit]
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification

The qualification ran from 22 February 2006 to 15 November 2006. For the first time, the defending champions (in this tournament, Japan) did not get automatic qualification. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam automatically qualified as co-hosts. Twenty-four teams were split into six groups of four to compete for the 12 remaining spots in the final tournament.

Team Qualified as Date qualification was secured Previous appearances in tournament1, 2
 Indonesia 00Co-hosts 7 August 2004 3 (1996, 2000, 2004)
 Malaysia 2 (1976, 1980)
 Thailand 5 (1972, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
 Vietnam3 2 (19564, 19604)
 Australia Group D winner 16 August 2006 0 (debut)
 Qatar Group F winner 6 September 2006 6 (1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004)
 Japan Group A winner 5 (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
 Saudi Arabia Group A runner-up 6 (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
 Iran Group B winner 11 October 2006 10 (1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
 South Korea Group B runner-up 10 (1956, 1960, 1964, 1972, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000, 2004)
 United Arab Emirates Group C winner 6 (1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2004)
 Oman Group C runner-up 1 (2004)
 Iraq Group E winner 5 (1972, 1976, 1996, 2000, 2004)
 China Group E runner-up 8 (1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
 Bahrain Group D runner-up 15 November 2006 2 (1988, 2004)
 Uzbekistan Group F runner-up 3 (1996, 2000, 2004)
1 Bold indicates champion for that year
2 Italic indicates host
3 Vietnam's debut since the reunification of Vietnam in 1976

Seeds

[edit]

For the first time, the seeds are based on the October 2006 FIFA World Rankings instead of the basis of the performance from the previous AFC Asian Cup competition. This was to ensure that the same number of strong teams do not meet in the early stage.[3]

The four seeded teams were announced on 19 December 2006. The seeds comprised Pot 4 in the draw. Pot 1 consists of the teams from all co-hosts.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
 Indonesia (153)
 Malaysia (152)
 Thailand (137)
 Vietnam (172) 		 China (84)
 Iraq (83)
 United Arab Emirates (87)
 Bahrain (97) 		 Qatar (58)
 Uzbekistan (45)
 Saudi Arabia (64)
 Oman (72) 		 Australia (39)
 Iran (38)
 Japan (47)
 South Korea (51)

The draw was held on 19 December 2006 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

Officials

[edit]

16 referees and 24 assistant referees were officially cleared following a fitness test on 2 July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. One referee and two assistant referees were also named from the CAF.[4]

(†): Replaced Singapore Shamsul Maidin after he pulled out with injury.[5]

Squads

[edit]
Further information: 2007 AFC Asian Cup squads

Tournament summary

[edit]
Participating countries.
Results of the participating teams

The Asian Cup saw many upsets in the early stages of the tournament, with tournament favourites Australia and South Korea performing poorly in the group stage.

In Group A, Oman held the Socceroos to a surprising draw. The Omanis took the lead and would have won, if not for an injury time goal from Tim Cahill. Next, joint hosts and the lowest-ranked team in the competition, Vietnam, shocked the UAE with a 2–0 victory. In the same group, Qatar held Japan to a shock 1–1 draw. The result caused Japan's coach Ivica Osim to fly into a rage in which he branded his players as 'amateurs' and reduced his interpreter to tears.[6] In Group D, Indonesia continued the undefeated streak of the hosts by defeating Bahrain 2–1. Malaysia ended up as the only host country to lose their opening match after a crushing 5–1 defeat to China. Thailand recorded just their 2nd win in the Asian Cup finals (their other was in 1972 against Cambodia), and its first ever win in regulation, when they beat Oman 2–0 on 12 July. Meanwhile, Australia was upset by a 3–1 defeat to Iraq the following day, leaving them floundering in third place in their group despite high expectations. However, Australia's 4–0 demolition of Thailand at the last match day saw them move on to the quarter-finals, as Oman was unable to overcome Iraq in a goalless draw.

Vietnam continued to stun all predictions when they drew 1–1 with 2006 ASIAD champions Qatar, while Japan finally got their first win when they thrashed the UAE 3–1. Although Vietnam lost 1–4 to Japan, the UAE's 2–1 comeback win over Qatar resulted in Vietnam's first ever qualification into the next round. They became the only host to progress through despite being in a group with three different champions. On the other hand, Malaysia continued its poor form with 0–5 and 0–2 losses to Uzbekistan and Iran, exiting the tournament without a single point. China's shocking elimination occurred when they were hammered 0–3 by the Uzbeks, despite having drawn 2–2 with Iran and was expected to qualify from group stage with an easy win.

Bahrain shocked the whole tournament by defeating South Korea 2–1 in Group D, leaving the Koreans on the verge of elimination when Indonesia was beaten 1–2 by Saudi Arabia. However, South Korea secured a 1–0 win over hosts Indonesia and with Saudi Arabia destroying Bahrain 4–0, it was enough for the Koreans to qualify to the quarter-finals.

In the quarter-finals, Iraq defeated Vietnam 2–0, while South Korea needed a penalty shootout to eliminate Iran 4–2. Japan also needed a penalty shootout to defeat Australia 4–3 (this was the first time Australia's goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer had ever come out on the losing end of a penalty shoot-out), and Saudi Arabia won over Uzbekistan 2–1. Iraq upset the Koreans in the semi-finals by winning 4–3 on penalties, resulting in thousands of Iraqis celebrating in the streets of Baghdad. Over 50 Iraqis were killed by terrorist bombs targeting these crowds.[7] In the other semi-finals, Saudi Arabia eliminated defending champions Japan after a 3–2 win to make the final match an all-Arab affair.

Iraq went on to defeat the Saudis 1–0, taking the Asian Cup title. Iraqi forward and captain Younis Mahmoud was given the title of Most Valuable Player. South Korea took third place, narrowly beating Japan 6–5 on penalties. It was the third consecutive match in the tournament that South Korea drew 0–0 before a penalty shootout. Iraq, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, as the top three teams in the tournament, all received automatic berths to the 2011 Asian Cup along with the next hosts Qatar.[8]

Group stage

[edit]

Group A

[edit]
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup Group A
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Iraq 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  Australia 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2 4
3  Thailand (H) 3 1 1 1 3 5 −2 4
4  Oman 3 0 2 1 1 3 −2 2
Source: Asian Cup 2007
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Thailand 1–1 Iraq
Sutee 6' (pen.) Report Mahmoud 32'
Attendance: 30,000
Australia 1–1 Oman
Cahill 90+2' Report Al-Maimani 32'
Attendance: 5,000
Oman 0–2 Thailand
Report Pipat 70', 78'
Attendance: 19,000
Iraq 3–1 Australia
Akram 22'
H. Mohammed 60'
Jassim 86'		 Report Viduka 47'
Attendance: 7,884
Referee: Jasim Karim (Bahrain)
Thailand 0–4 Australia
Report Beauchamp 21'
Viduka 80', 83'
Kewell 90'
Attendance: 46,000
Oman 0–0 Iraq
Report
Attendance: 500

Group B

[edit]
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup Group B
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Japan 3 2 1 0 8 3 +5 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Vietnam (H) 3 1 1 1 4 5 −1 4
3  United Arab Emirates 3 1 0 2 3 6 −3 3
4  Qatar 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Vietnam 2–0 United Arab Emirates
Huỳnh Quang Thanh 64'
Lê Công Vinh 73'		 Report
Attendance: 39,450
Referee: Talaat Najm (Lebanon)
Japan 1–1 Qatar
Takahara 61' Report Soria 88'
Attendance: 5,000
Qatar 1–1 Vietnam
Soria 79' Report Phan Thanh Bình 32'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Masoud Moradi (Iran)
United Arab Emirates 1–3 Japan
Al-Kass 66' Report Takahara 22', 27'
S. Nakamura 42' (pen.)
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Satop Tongkhan (Thailand)
Vietnam 1–4 Japan
Suzuki 8' (o.g.) Report Maki 12', 59'
Endō 31'
S. Nakamura 53'
Attendance: 40,000
Qatar 1–2 United Arab Emirates
Soria 42' (pen.) Report Al-Kass 60'
Khalil 90+4'
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Masoud Moradi (Iran)

Group C

[edit]
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup Group C
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Iran 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 9 2 +7 6
3  China 3 1 1 1 7 6 +1 4
4  Malaysia (H) 3 0 0 3 1 12 −11 0
Source: Asian Cup 2007
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Malaysia 1–5 China
Indra Putra 74' Report Han Peng 15', 55'
Shao Jiayi 36'
Wang Dong 51', 90+3'
Attendance: 21,155
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Iran 2–1 Uzbekistan
Hosseini 55'
Kazemian 78'		 Report Rezaei 16' (o.g.)
Attendance: 1,863
Uzbekistan 5–0 Malaysia
Shatskikh 10', 89'
Kapadze 30'
Bakayev 45+2' (pen.)
Ibrahimov 85'		 Report
Attendance: 7,137
China 2–2 Iran
Shao Jiayi 7'
Mao Jianqing 33'		 Report Zandi 45+1'
Nekounam 74'
Attendance: 5,938
Malaysia 0–2 Iran
Report Nekounam 29' (pen.)
Teymourian 77'
Attendance: 4,520
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
Uzbekistan 3–0 China
Shatskikh 72'
Kapadze 86'
Geynrikh 90+4'		 Report
Attendance: 2,200

Group D

[edit]
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup Group D
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Saudi Arabia 3 2 1 0 7 2 +5 7 Advance to knockout stage
2  South Korea 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 4
3  Indonesia (H) 3 1 0 2 3 4 −1 3
4  Bahrain 3 1 0 2 3 7 −4 3
Source: Asian Cup 2007
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Indonesia 2–1 Bahrain
Budi 14'
Bambang 64'		 Report Jalal 27'
Attendance: 60,000
South Korea 1–1 Saudi Arabia
Choi Sung-kuk 66' Report Y. Al-Qahtani 77' (pen.)
Attendance: 15,000
Saudi Arabia 2–1 Indonesia
Y. Al-Qahtani 12'
Al-Harthi 90'		 Report Elie 17'
Attendance: 87,000
Bahrain 2–1 South Korea
Isa 43'
Abdullatif 85'		 Report Kim Do-heon 4'
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Sun Baojie (China)
Indonesia 0–1 South Korea
Report Kim Jung-woo 34'
Attendance: 88,000
Saudi Arabia 4–0 Bahrain
Al-Mousa 18'
A. Al-Qahtani 45'
Al-Jassim 68', 79'		 Report
Attendance: 500

Knockout stage

[edit]
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage
 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
21 July – Bangkok
 
 
 Iraq2
 
25 July – Kuala Lumpur
 
 Vietnam0
 
 Iraq (pen.)0 (4)
 
22 July – Kuala Lumpur
 
 South Korea0 (3)
 
 Iran0 (2)
 
29 July – Jakarta
 
 South Korea (pen.)0 (4)
 
 Iraq1
 
21 July – Hanoi
 
 Saudi Arabia0
 
 Japan (pen.)1 (4)
 
25 July – Hanoi
 
 Australia1 (3)
 
 Japan2
 
22 July – Jakarta
 
 Saudi Arabia3 Third place
 
 Saudi Arabia2
 
28 July – Palembang
 
 Uzbekistan1
 
 South Korea (pen.)0 (6)
 
 
 Japan0 (5)
 

Quarter-finals

[edit]
Japan 1–1 (a.e.t.) Australia
Takahara 72' Report Aloisi 70'
Penalties
Nakamura soccer ball with check mark
Endō soccer ball with check mark
Komano soccer ball with check mark
Takahara soccer ball with red X
Nakazawa soccer ball with check mark		 4–3 soccer ball with red X Kewell
soccer ball with red X Neill
soccer ball with check mark Cahill
soccer ball with check mark Carle
soccer ball with check mark Carney
Attendance: 25,000
Iraq 2–0 Vietnam
Mahmoud 2', 65' Report
Attendance: 9,720
Iran 0–0 (a.e.t.) South Korea
Report
Penalties
Zandi soccer ball with check mark
Mahdavikia soccer ball with red X
Enayati soccer ball with check mark
Khatibi soccer ball with red X		 2–4 soccer ball with check mark Lee Chun-soo
soccer ball with check mark Kim Sang-sik
soccer ball with red X Kim Do-heon
soccer ball with check mark Cho Jae-jin
soccer ball with check mark Kim Jung-woo
Attendance: 8,629
Saudi Arabia 2–1 Uzbekistan
Y. Al-Qahtani 3'
Al-Mousa 75'		 Report Solomin 82'
Attendance: 12,000

Semi-finals

[edit]
Iraq 0–0 (a.e.t.) South Korea
Report
Penalties
H. Mohammed soccer ball with check mark
Munir soccer ball with check mark
Abdul-Amir soccer ball with check mark
Mnajed soccer ball with check mark		 4–3 soccer ball with check mark Lee Chun-soo
soccer ball with check mark Lee Dong-gook
soccer ball with check mark Cho Jae-jin
soccer ball with red X Yeom Ki-hun
soccer ball with red X Kim Jung-woo
Attendance: 12,500
Japan 2–3 Saudi Arabia
Nakazawa 37'
Abe 53'		 Report Y. Al-Qahtani 35'
Mouath 47', 57'
Attendance: 10,000

Third place play-off

[edit]
South Korea 0–0 (a.e.t.) Japan
Report
Penalties
Cho Jae-jin soccer ball with check mark
Oh Beom-seok soccer ball with check mark
Lee Chun-soo soccer ball with check mark
Lee Ho soccer ball with check mark
Kim Jin-kyu soccer ball with check mark
Kim Chi-woo soccer ball with check mark		 6–5 soccer ball with check mark S. Nakamura
soccer ball with check mark Endō
soccer ball with check mark Abe
soccer ball with check mark Komano
soccer ball with check mark Nakazawa
soccer ball with red X Hanyu
Attendance: 10,000

Final

[edit]
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup final
Iraq 1–0 Saudi Arabia
Mahmoud 72' Report
Attendance: 60,000

Statistics

[edit]

Goalscorers

[edit]

With four goals, Younis Mahmoud, Naohiro Takahara and Yasser Al-Qahtani are the top scorers in the tournament. In total, 84 goals were scored by 57 different players, with two of them credited as own goals.

4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

Awards

[edit]

Most Valuable Player[1]

Top scorer

Best Goalkeeper[1]

Best Defender[1]

Fair Play Award[1]

Most Entertaining Team[1]

Team of the tournament

The Toshiba All-Star XI was voted for by fans on the official Asian Cup website.[9][10]

Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards

South Korea Lee Woon-jae

Iraq Bassim Abbas
Japan Yuji Nakazawa
Iran Rahman Rezaei
Australia Lucas Neill

Japan Shunsuke Nakamura
Australia Harry Kewell
South Korea Lee Chun-soo
Iraq Nashat Akram

Japan Naohiro Takahara
Saudi Arabia Yasser Al-Qahtani

Marketing

[edit]

Official match ball

[edit]

The Official Match Ball for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup was launched by Nike on 15 May 2007, making it the first time ever that a ball had been launched specifically for any football competition in Asia.[11] The Nike Mercurial Veloci AC features four blue stripes with gold trim with each host city's name inscribed, as well as the AFC Asian Cup logo.[12]

Official song

[edit]

The AFC selected "I Believe", a 2004 single by Thai singer Tata Young as the tournament's official song.[13]

Sponsorships

[edit]

Official Sponsors

Official Supporters

References

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

2007 AFC Asian Cup

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2007 AFC Asian Cup was the quadrennial continental championship for senior men's national football teams affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation, featuring 16 participating nations in a format of group stages followed by knockout rounds, and marking the first edition co-hosted by four countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, from 7 to 29 July 2007. Iraq secured its inaugural title by defeating Saudi Arabia 1–0 in the final at Jakarta's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium before 60,000 spectators, with captain Younis Mahmoud heading in the decisive goal in the 72nd minute, capping an undefeated run that included a 2–0 quarter-final victory over host Vietnam and a 4–3 penalty shootout win over South Korea in the semi-finals. The triumph, achieved with just two months of preparation under coach Jorvan Vieira despite Iraq's internal civil strife forcing the team to train abroad, briefly united a fractured nation across sectarian lines, though violence persisted post-victory, including bombings targeting celebrating fans after the semi-final that killed over 100 and nearly prompted Iraq's withdrawal from the final. Mahmoud was named the tournament's most valuable player for his contributions.

Background

Bidding and Host Selection

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) initiated the bidding process for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup in 2004, seeking hosts for the tournament scheduled from July 7 to 29. Bids were submitted by Saudi Arabia, aiming for sole hosting rights, and a joint proposal from four Southeast Asian nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam, representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) quartet. On August 7, 2004, the AFC awarded co-hosting rights to , , , and , selecting their joint bid over Saudi Arabia's despite the kingdom's prior experience hosting the 1988 and 1996 editions. This decision marked the first instance of multiple nations co-hosting the , aimed at broadening regional participation and infrastructure development in , with each country assigned specific venues and matches. The selection emphasized logistical coordination among the co-hosts, with designated for the final at in . However, preparations faced scrutiny; in October 2006, the AFC issued Thailand a 90-day to meet infrastructure and organizational standards, or risk replacement by , due to delays in stadium upgrades and security arrangements. Thailand complied, retaining its role.

Historical Context

The , the premier men's international football tournament in organized by the (AFC), commenced in 1956 in with four teams—, , , and —competing in a round-robin format. secured the inaugural title by defeating 2–0 in the decisive match on December 2, 1956, establishing early dominance that persisted with their repeat victory in 1960, also hosted by . Initial editions featured limited participation, reflecting the nascent stage of organized football across the continent, with only 3–6 teams until expansion to eight nations in 1968 amid growing AFC membership and infrastructure. By the 1988 edition in , the tournament had grown to 16 teams, a format maintained through , incorporating a group stage followed by rounds since 1972 to accommodate broader qualification and enhance competitiveness. This evolution paralleled Asia's rising global football profile, with claiming three titles (1968, 1972, 1976) and two (1976 runners-up but 1980 winners), though East Asian teams like and began asserting influence in the 1980s and 1990s. The quadrennial cycle from 1956 to 2004 shifted to odd-numbered years starting in to circumvent scheduling overlaps with the Summer Olympics and , both typically in even years. Leading into 2007, the tournament in —won by for their third championship on July 7, , via a 3–1 extra-time victory over —highlighted East Asia's technical ascendancy amid professionalization and qualifications. The AFC's selection of for 2007 marked a departure, awarding joint hosting to , , , and in 2004 after their collaborative bid emphasized regional unity and development in underrepresented football zones, the first such multi-nation arrangement in the competition's . This setup aimed to leverage collective resources for venues and while fostering growth in host nations with varying football maturity levels.

Tournament Organization

Venues and Logistics

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup was co-hosted by , , , and from July 7 to 29, marking the first instance of four nations jointly organizing the tournament, after relinquished hosting rights due to ongoing security instability from the . This multi-nation arrangement, initiated by AFC President , aimed to distribute organizational burdens but later drew criticism for exacerbating logistical strains. Eight stadiums across six cities accommodated the 24 matches, with venues selected for their capacities and infrastructure, though some faced upgrades or temporary setups to meet AFC standards. The opening match occurred at Rajamangala National Stadium in , , while the final took place at in , , and the third-place playoff at in , .
CountryCityStadiumCapacity
88,083
~40,000
~80,000
~30,000
Rajamangala National Stadium~50,000
40,000
~25,000
Capacities reflect approximate figures at the time, with some stadiums like Gelora Bung Karno hosting multiple group and knockout matches due to its size. Logistical operations involved coordinating across borders, with teams facing extended travel times—such as 12-hour journeys for squads like and between and —contributing to fatigue and scheduling disruptions. Overall attendance totaled around 1.1 million, boosted by host nation crowds (e.g., 234,000 across Indonesia's Jakarta games), but the dispersed format strained budgets and coordination, leading bin Hammam to deem it a misstep in retrospect.

Officials and Refereeing

The (AFC) appointed 32 referees and 32 assistant referees from across its member associations to officiate the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, selecting them based on FIFA international listings and prior performances in continental competitions. Prominent officials included Australia's Mark Shield, who refereed the final between and on July 29, 2007, in ; Japan's Yuichi Nishimura, who handled several group stage matches; and Iran's Masoud Moradi, assigned to Group D fixtures. Bahrain's Jasim Karim and China's Sun Baojie also featured among the main referees, with assignments distributed to ensure regional balance and avoid national biases. Prior to the tournament, the AFC enforced strict fitness standards, dropping two unnamed assistant referees who failed mandatory physical tests conducted in June 2007. During the event, additional concerns arose over physical conditioning, leading to two assistant referees being sent home mid-tournament for inadequate fitness levels, as determined by AFC monitoring. These measures reflected the confederation's emphasis on referee preparedness amid the tournament's high-stakes environment across four host nations. Refereeing drew criticism in multiple matches, with teams alleging inconsistent decisions on fouls, offside calls, and penalties. Indonesia's 1-2 loss to on July 14, 2007, prompted fan protests and official complaints against the referee, Abdulhamid Al-Bargan of , for perceived favoritism toward the opponents. Similarly, coach publicly condemned "bad refereeing" after his team's 1-2 defeat to on July 12, 2007, claiming pivotal errors influenced the outcome. In response, the AFC investigated post-match reports and suspended four officials for substandard performances: Lebanon's Najm Talaat received a one-month ban for his handling of Vietnam's match against the UAE; Iran's Masoud Moradi and assistant Reza Sokhandan faced indefinite suspensions for Group D games; and Japan's assistant Toru Sagara was also penalized. These actions underscored the AFC's commitment to accountability, though critics argued that proactive video reviews could have mitigated disputes more effectively.

Format and Seeding

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup consisted of 16 qualified teams divided into four groups of four, with each group playing a single round-robin format. Three points were awarded for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss; tie-breakers followed , goals scored, head-to-head results, and fair play points if necessary. The top two teams from each group advanced to the phase, which included quarter-finals on 21–22 July, semi-finals on 25 July, a third-place match on 28 July, and the final on 29 July, all conducted as single-elimination matches with extra time and penalty shootouts to resolve draws. The final draw occurred on 19 December 2006 in , . Departing from prior editions that used previous Asian Cup performances for seeding, the 2007 allocation relied on World Rankings from October 2006 to classify the non-host teams. The four co-host nations—, , , and —were pre-assigned to Pot 1 and placed one in each group (Vietnam in Group A, Thailand in Group B, Malaysia in Group C, and Indonesia in Group D) to prevent intra-host matchups in the group stage. The remaining 12 teams were distributed into Pots 2, 3, and 4 according to their rankings, with one team drawn from each pot into every group to promote competitive balance; Pot 4 contained the highest-ranked "seeds," including , , , and .

Qualification

Qualification Process

The four co-host nations—Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam—automatically qualified for the finals tournament. A preliminary round was held on 8 and 12 October 2005 between two lower-ranked entrants, Maldives and Bangladesh, with the winner advancing to the main qualifying round. Bangladesh secured advancement with a 3–0 aggregate score, winning 3–1 at home and drawing 0–0 away. The qualifying round proper, spanning 22 February to 15 November 2006, featured 24 teams (including ) drawn into six groups of four based on world rankings as of 1 December 2005. Each group contested a double round-robin format of home-and-away matches, totaling six fixtures per team. The top two finishers from each group earned qualification to the finals, yielding 12 additional participants alongside the hosts. Group seeding placed the six highest-ranked teams (Japan, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, and Uzbekistan) into separate groups to balance competition, with the draw conducted in , , on 2 March 2006. Standings were determined first by points, then , goals scored, and head-to-head results if tied. Notable outcomes included and topping Group A on 15 points each (decided by ), while and advanced from Group E with 11 points apiece.

Qualified Teams

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup included 16 teams, with four co-hosting nations qualifying automatically and the remaining twelve advancing from the final stage of qualification, where they finished as one of the top two teams in six groups contested between August 2006 and November 2006. The co-hosts were , , , and , marking the first and only time the tournament was jointly hosted by four countries. Australia participated in its debut as a newly affiliated AFC member after switching from the in 2006, securing qualification by topping Group D in the final qualifying round. The qualified teams were:
TeamQualification Method
Winner, Group D
Runner-up, Group C
China PRWinner, Group E
Host nation
Winner, Group A
Winner, Group F
Seeded (top 2006 rankings)
Korea RepublicSeeded (top 2006 rankings)
Host nation
Runner-up, Group D
Runner-up, Group B
Winner, Group B
Host nation
Runner-up, Group A
Runner-up, Group E
Host nation
Japan and Korea Republic, as the top two seeded teams based on FIFA rankings from December 2005, were exempt from earlier rounds but entered directly into the final qualification stage, where they advanced unchallenged due to their seeding status. Iraq's qualification amid ongoing domestic instability highlighted the tournament's resilience, as the team advanced from Group F despite logistical challenges.

Participating Teams

Squads and Key Players

Each participating team assembled a of 23 players, adhering to AFC tournament regulations that mandated submission prior to the event's commencement on July 7, 2007. These rosters blended experienced internationals with domestic league performers, reflecting national strategies amid varying levels of and regional . 's , under Brazilian coach , exemplified resilience, from a player pool disrupted by ongoing conflict yet unified for the competition. , , and fielded lineups heavy on European-based professionals, while host nations like and integrated local heroes with limited overseas exposure. Iraq's success hinged on captain Younis Mahmoud, the forward who scored five goals, including the decisive strike in the 1-0 final win over on July 29, 2007, earning him the accolade from the AFC technical study group. Goalkeeper Noor Sabri anchored the defense with crucial saves, while midfielder Nashat Akram provided creative playmaking in midfield. Defender Bassim Abbas offered solidity at the back. Saudi Arabia relied on striker Yasser Al-Qahtani, their captain who netted five goals to share the top scorer honor, driving their runner-up finish despite defensive lapses. Japan's Naohiro Takahara matched the scoring tally with five goals, though the team exited in the quarterfinals. Uzbekistan's Maksim Shatskikh contributed four goals, highlighting Central Asian prowess. The top scorers were:
PlayerTeamGoals
Yasser Al-QahtaniSaudi Arabia5
Younis MahmoudIraq5
Naohiro TakaharaJapan5
Maksim ShatskikhUzbekistan4
Notable absences included injury-hit stars from powerhouses like , where Mark Viduka still managed three goals despite the Socceroos' group-stage elimination. Host Vietnam's Le Cong Vinh emerged as a local standout, scoring twice and symbolizing regional pride.

Pre-Tournament Expectations

Japan, the defending champions after victories in 2000 and 2004, entered the tournament as pre-tournament favorites to claim a third consecutive title, bolstered by a squad blending experienced internationals and emerging talents from the . Their consistent performance in international competitions, including strong showings in World Cup qualifiers, positioned them as the team to beat according to betting markets and expert analyses. Iran emerged as another leading contender, holding the highest ranking (41st) among participating teams and demonstrating robust form in regional qualifiers with a defense-oriented style led by players like . Saudi Arabia, with three prior Asian Cup triumphs (1984, 1988, 1996), was expected to leverage its historical success and attacking prowess, particularly in Group D alongside . South Korea and debut AFC participant also drew attention; the Koreans for their technical depth and World Cup pedigree, while Australia's quarter-final run at the fueled predictions of an immediate impact under coach . The four co-host nations—Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam—anticipated boosts from home crowds but faced skepticism as serious title challengers due to inconsistent qualification records and lower rankings. Iraq, despite qualifying comfortably, carried low expectations amid ongoing domestic instability, with focus on mere participation rather than contention. Overall, analysts emphasized a competitive field dominated by West Asian and East Asian powerhouses, with upsets anticipated given the expanded format and neutral venues for some matches.

Competition Phases

Group Stage

The group stage of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup took place from 7 to 18 July 2007, with the 16 qualified teams divided into four groups of four teams each. Matches followed a single round-robin format within groups, awarding , one for a draw, and zero for a loss; served as the primary tiebreaker. The top two teams from each group advanced to the quarter-finals, yielding eight qualifiers: , , , , , , , and .

Group A

Group A matches were held mainly at in , . Iraq secured first place with five points (one win, two draws), advancing undefeated despite scoring only four goals total. finished second on four points, boosted by a six-goal haul but hampered by a 3–1 loss to Iraq on 13 July. and were eliminated, with 's campaign featuring a 2–0 win over but draws and a loss elsewhere. Notable results included the opening 1–1 draw between and Iraq (Sutee Suksomkit penalty in the 6th minute for , Younis Mahmoud equalizer in the 32nd) and 's 1–1 draw with , rescued by Tim Cahill's 90+2nd-minute header. Iraq also drew 0–0 with .
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1312042+25
2311164+24
3311135−24
4302113−22

Japan dominated with seven points (two wins, one draw) and a +5 , scoring eight goals including against and the UAE. , the co-hosts, advanced as runners-up with four points, achieving their first-ever qualification via a historic debut win over the UAE and a 1–1 draw with . The UAE took third with three points from one win, while earned two points from two draws but conceded the decisive goal in losses. A key stalemate was 's 1–1 draw with on matchday one.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1321083+57
2311145−14
3UAE310236−33
4302134−12

Group C

topped with seven points (two wins, one draw), advancing alongside , who scored nine goals but finished second on six points after a 2–1 loss to . 's offensive output included a 5–0 rout of on matchday two. progressed? No, third with four points, eliminated despite seven goals scored; languished last, winless and conceding 12 goals, including 5–1 losses to and . opened with a win over , while beat 5–1.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1IR Iran321063+37
2Uzbekistan320192+76
3China PR311176+14
4Malaysia3003112−110

Group D

Saudi Arabia led Group D with seven points (two wins, one draw) and +5 goal difference, qualifying first. South Korea advanced second on four points (one win, one draw, one loss). Indonesia and Bahrain both ended on three points but were eliminated; Indonesia's sole win came 2–1 over Bahrain, while Bahrain lost twice. Key results: Saudi Arabia 2–1 Indonesia before a group stage record crowd of 88,000 spectators; South Korea 0–0 Saudi Arabia; Indonesia 2–1 Bahrain.
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1321072+57
2Korea Republic31113304
3310234−13
4Bahrain301226−41

Knockout Stage

The knockout stage featured single-elimination matches starting with the quarterfinals on 21 and 22 2007, involving the top two teams from each group. Ties after 90 minutes proceeded to extra time, followed by penalty shootouts if necessary. Winners advanced to the semifinals on 25 , with the final scheduled for 29 in . Quarterfinal results were:
DateVenueMatchScore
21 JulyMy Dinh National Stadium, HanoiJapan vs Australia1–1 (4–3 p)
21 JulyThong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh CityIraq vs Vietnam2–0
22 JulyShah Alam Stadium, Shah AlamIran vs South Korea0–0 (2–4 p)
22 JulyGelora Bung Karno Stadium, JakartaSaudi Arabia vs Uzbekistan2–1
Japan advanced after Yuto Nagatomo scored in the 84th minute to level Harry Kewell's earlier goal, prevailing in the shootout. Iraq secured a straightforward victory over co-host Vietnam with goals from Younis Mahmoud and Nashat Akram. South Korea progressed via penalties against Iran, while Saudi Arabia's Yasser Al-Qahtani and Naif Hazazi scored to overcome Uzbekistan. In the semifinals:
DateVenueMatchScore
25 JulyMy Dinh National Stadium, HanoiIraq vs South Korea0–0 (4–3 p)
25 July, BangkokJapan vs Saudi Arabia2–3
Iraq reached the final after a goalless draw and penalty success against , with goalkeeper Noor Sabri saving two kicks. upset 3–2, with goals from (two) and Mohammed Al-Zahrani, despite late efforts from Japan's and Takahiro Shibasaki. and thus qualified for the final, while and contested third place.

Results and Statistics

Final and Third Place

The final match of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup took place on July 29, 2007, at in , , between and . secured a 1–0 victory, with scoring the decisive header in the 73rd minute from a delivered by . This result marked 's first continental title, achieved under coach despite ongoing domestic instability. The third-place match occurred on July 28, 2007, at Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium in Palembang, Indonesia, pitting South Korea against Japan. The game ended 0–0 after extra time, with South Korea prevailing 6–5 in the penalty shootout, thanks to goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae's save on Japan's final attempt by Shunsuke Nakamura. This was South Korea's third third-place finish in the tournament's history, following similar penalty shootout outcomes in prior knockout stages.

Goalscorers and Awards

of , of , and of shared the top scorer award with four goals each.
PlayerTeamGoals
4
4
4
Younis Mahmoud was named the most valuable player of the tournament for his decisive contributions, including the winning goal in the final against .

Overall Tournament Metrics

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup consisted of 32 matches involving 16 teams, with a total of 84 goals scored at an average of 2.65 goals per match. This marked a slight increase in scoring rate compared to prior editions, though defensive play dominated the knockout stages. Aggregate attendance across all venues reached 254,518 spectators, yielding an average of 7,954 per match. Peak crowds occurred at major venues, including 87,411 at for the final and 77,193 at in . These figures reflected logistical challenges in co-hosting across four nations but fell short of capacity expectations at several stadia. Television viewership was estimated at 650 million globally, bolstered by broadcasts in host countries and key Asian markets. Sponsorship revenues rose 40-50% over the 2004 tournament, supported by deals with Emirates, , and , though exact financial totals remain undisclosed in public records.

Marketing and Sponsorship

Official Elements

The official logo for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, designed by , depicted a stylized soccer ball formed by an artist's brush stroke, symbolizing the unity of the four co-host nations—, , , and —through quadrants representing each country's contribution to the event. The tournament featured no official mascot, marking an exception among editions of the competition that otherwise introduced character mascots starting from 1984. The official theme song was "I Believe" by Thai singer Tata Young, a track originally released in 2004 that was adapted for the event and performed at the opening ceremony on July 7, 2007, in Jakarta. Major sponsors included Emirates as the title sponsor, alongside ING Group, Samsung, Toshiba, JCB, Maxell, Asahi Shimbun, and Yamaha Motor, with sponsorship revenues reportedly increasing 40-50% over the 2004 edition due to heightened commercial interest in the multi-nation hosting format.

Broadcasting and Promotion

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup's broadcasting rights were secured by regional networks including STAR Sports, which aired all 32 matches across , with a focus on key markets like and . Expectations for viewership were high, with projections of cumulative audiences reaching one billion in , , and combined, driven by the tournament's multi-host format in , , , and . Television revenues increased significantly from prior editions, reflecting expanded commercial interest amid the event's anticipated global reach. Promotion efforts emphasized partnerships with host nations' tourism authorities, such as the collaboration between the AFC and Tourism Malaysia to market the tournament through joint campaigns highlighting venues in and . Sponsors played a central role, with companies like Emirates, , and contributing to revenues 40-50% higher than the 2004 edition via integrated marketing activations, including Samsung's "Man of the Match" awards presented post-game to boost on-air and stadium engagement. The AFC also initiated media-focused initiatives, such as the AFC Asian Cup 2007 Sports Writers Contest in , aimed at generating editorial coverage and fan interest through journalist participation. supported broader football promotion in Asia via its ongoing AFC partnership, which included branding and content tied to the event. These strategies leveraged the tournament's regional co-hosting to enhance visibility, though actual attendance and engagement faced separate challenges unrelated to broadcast promotion.

Controversies and Criticisms

Organizational and Logistical Failures

The decision to co-host the 2007 AFC Asian Cup across four Southeast Asian nations—, , , and —introduced significant logistical challenges, marking the first instance of quadrennial hosting by multiple countries and complicating coordination for teams, officials, and fans due to international travel requirements between eight venues in disparate cities. AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam highlighted pre-tournament that the four-host model posed inherent problems, with nearly stripped of its rights for repeated delays in stadium upgrades and directed to consolidate its efforts amid similar infrastructural shortfalls. These issues stemmed from uneven preparedness across hosts, exacerbating travel disruptions, including cross-border flights and logistics that strained team schedules and fan accessibility. Specific operational failures compounded these broader hurdles, including acute accommodation shortages; Iraq's delegation encountered insufficient rooms at their designated hotel in upon arrival, while Japan's team similarly faced booking inadequacies that disrupted preparations. Ticketing mismanagement fueled public discontent, particularly in , where hundreds of supporters attempted to storm on July 12, 2007, after being denied entry to the hosts' opening match against due to sold-out or unavailable tickets. Such incidents reflected poor demand forecasting and distribution systems ill-equipped for the multi-venue format, contributing to uneven and safety concerns. Overall, these organizational lapses undermined the tournament's execution, with the decentralized hosting amplifying costs and inefficiencies for participants—evident in teams' repeated relocations, such as Iraq's transit difficulties amid regional instability—while failing to generate anticipated regional fervor despite capacities at major venues like Jakarta's 80,000-seat stadium often underutilized beyond select fixtures. The AFC's post-event reflections implicitly critiqued the model, influencing future single-host preferences to mitigate similar coordination breakdowns.

Attendance and Fan Disengagement

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup, co-hosted by , , , and , experienced significantly lower attendance than anticipated, with many group stage matches drawing crowds under 10,000 despite stadium capacities often exceeding 40,000. For instance, Australia's opening match against in attracted only about 5,000 spectators, as reported by the . Similarly, games in saw sparse local turnout, with audiences primarily composed of visiting supporters from teams like and . In contrast, host-specific enthusiasm boosted figures in select venues, such as Vietnam's 40,000-capacity My Dinh Stadium filling for a national team match and drawing a combined 234,000 fans across three Jakarta games. The final in Jakarta's achieved a tournament-high of over 60,000 attendees for Iraq's victory over . Several factors contributed to this fan disengagement, primarily stemming from the unprecedented multi-nation hosting model, which fragmented the event across four countries and created logistical barriers for regional travel and unified promotion. Organizers faced a "logistical nightmare," with inadequate exacerbating low awareness and ticket sales in host cities like and . Inclement weather, including daily monsoon rains and stifling humidity in , deterred attendance, while further hampered access to venues like . In , a prevailing "" among locals reflected weaker domestic football culture and disinterest in non-host matchups, leading to half-empty stands even for competitive fixtures. These issues highlighted broader challenges in generating continent-wide excitement, as the dispersed format diluted the tournament's communal atmosphere compared to single-host editions.

Team and Refereeing Issues

The (AFC) suspended four match officials for inadequate performances during the group stage, including Lebanese referee Najm Talaat, who received a one-month ban for his handling of the versus match on July 12, where critical decisions were criticized for inconsistency. Additionally, two assistant referees were removed from the tournament prior to its start after failing mandatory fitness tests, highlighting pre-event preparation shortcomings in officiating standards. Indonesian officials and fans protested refereeing in their 2–1 group stage loss to on July 15, alleging bias by the Japanese official Yuichi, who issued decisions perceived as favoring the opponents, though the AFC did not overturn the result. United Arab Emirates coach Bruno Metsu publicly condemned "bad refereeing" as a factor dooming his team's campaign, particularly after losses marred by disputed calls, such as in their 2–1 defeat to on July 12. These incidents contributed to broader perceptions of uneven officiating quality, with some observers noting patterns of questionable decisions that appeared to favor certain nationalities, though the AFC attributed suspensions primarily to technical errors rather than . On the team side, Iraq faced severe internal disarray ahead of the tournament, including a last-minute coaching change to Brazilian on July 2, just days before departure, following the sacking of previous staff amid poor qualifying form. Only a fraction of players attended initial training sessions under Vieira, exacerbated by distrust between the federation and squad members, with the Iraqi contemplating replacing the entire roster due to disciplinary lapses and absenteeism linked to civil unrest back home. Logistical challenges compounded these problems, including inadequate conditions in , substandard food, missing equipment, and disrupted training amid security threats, forcing Vieira to manage a fragmented group that trained in secrecy and endured sleepless preparation. Japan's squad suffered from physical fatigue, with coach Ivica Osim attributing early elimination to overexertion among key players after a grueling schedule, including extra time in their quarter-final loss to on July 21. 's rapid group stage exit drew criticism for complacency and tactical rigidity under coach , with players displaying overconfidence that led to uncharacteristic errors, such as in their 3–1 semifinal defeat to on July 25. These team-specific vulnerabilities, often rooted in preparation gaps and internal dynamics rather than external factors, underscored the tournament's uneven competitive landscape despite the presence of established powers.

Legacy and Impact

Iraq's Victory and National Unity

secured its first title on July 29, 2007, defeating 1–0 in the final at in , , with captain scoring the decisive header in the 71st minute from a . Under Brazilian coach , appointed just before the tournament amid internal federation turmoil, advanced undefeated, conceding only two goals across six matches, including quarter-final victory over and semi-final win against . The team's multi-sectarian composition, drawing players from Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish backgrounds, mirrored Iraq's fractured society yet fostered internal solidarity during preparations hampered by the ongoing civil strife. The victory elicited widespread celebrations across , uniting citizens amid the height of post-2003 invasion violence, where over 1,000 bombings occurred monthly in alone. Thousands gathered in streets from Sunni-dominated areas like Adhamiya to Shia strongholds in , waving flags and chanting in unison, defying insurgent threats and temporary lulls in hostilities to honor the Lions of . , representing the Shiite-led government, publicly lauded the win as a triumph for all Iraqis, transcending sectarian lines in a manner political efforts had failed to achieve. Players endured personal tragedies, including family deaths from bombings, yet the success symbolized resilience and collective identity, with midfielder Hawar Mulla Mohammed later reflecting on the era's pervasive violence contrasted by the tournament's unifying joy. Vieira's pre-final address to the squad emphasized national pride over individual fears, reinforcing the event's role in bolstering morale amid displacement affecting millions. Observers, including documentary filmmaker Lucian Read, described it as an improbable beacon of hope, where soccer briefly eclipsed daily perils of car bombs and kidnappings, fostering a shared narrative of defiance. While short-lived against entrenched divisions, the triumph's immediate psychological impact—evident in reduced violence reports during celebrations—highlighted 's potential to catalyze temporary cohesion in conflict zones, as corroborated by contemporaneous accounts from . Iraq's return with the trophy prompted nationwide tributes, including honors from political leaders, underscoring its rarity as a non-partisan achievement in a polarized landscape.

Influence on AFC Tournaments

The 2007 AFC Asian Cup implemented a revised scheduling cycle shifted to odd-numbered years, a decision by the AFC in 2004 to prevent overlaps with the and Summer Olympics, both typically held in even years. This adjustment, first executed in 2007, established the pattern for all subsequent editions, including the 2011 tournament in , 2015 in , 2019 in the , and 2023 in , enhancing global visibility by reducing direct competition with major European events. Post-2007, the AFC eliminated automatic qualification for the defending champions, requiring —the 2004 winners—to compete in standard qualifiers for the 2011 edition, marking the first such instance and resulting in their absence from that tournament. This reform aimed to heighten competitiveness by ensuring all teams, including recent victors, earned spots through merit-based qualification, reflecting a broader push for parity amid criticisms of predictable outcomes in prior formats. The tournament's organizational challenges, including low average match attendance below despite co-hosting across four Southeast Asian nations with a combined population exceeding 500 million, underscored limitations of multi-nation arrangements in generating fan interest and logistical cohesion. Consequently, the AFC reverted to single-host models from onward, prioritizing nations with robust infrastructure and domestic football enthusiasm, such as and , to improve attendance, revenue, and operational efficiency in future events.

Long-Term Assessments

Retrospective evaluations of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup highlight 's victory as its most enduring sporting achievement, with the national team's run providing a momentary respite from the Iraq War's devastation. The squad, coached by Brazilian , navigated internal disarray and external threats to defeat 1-0 in the final on July 29, 2007, conceding just two goals across the tournament. This success, celebrated by millions in despite ongoing bombings, symbolized resilience and briefly unified diverse sects, as evidenced by widespread street festivities that reportedly overshadowed sectarian divides for days. Long-term analyses, however, question the victory's broader societal impact, noting that while it instilled national pride, it did not alter the trajectory of or political fragmentation in . Post-tournament, the country's football infrastructure remained hampered by instability, with the national team struggling in subsequent Asian Cups and domestic leagues affected by and conflict; has not advanced beyond the quarterfinals in editions since . Opinions vary on its role, with some viewing it as a fleeting disruption to bloodshed rather than a catalyst for lasting reconciliation, as civilian casualties exceeded 20,000 in 2007 alone. The tournament's organizational legacy underscores persistent challenges in Asian football governance, including multi-nation hosting inefficiencies that contributed to low attendance—group stage matches often drew fewer than 10,000 spectators—and logistical strains across , , and . These shortcomings fueled criticisms of the AFC's planning, influencing a shift toward single-host formats in later cups to enhance cohesion and commercial viability, as seen in the centralized edition. Iraq's narrative, amplified in documentaries like Lions of Mesopotamia (), continues to overshadow these flaws, positioning the event as a testament to human potential amid adversity rather than administrative exemplar.

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  72. https://www.cnn.com/2017/07/28/football/iraq-asia-cup-2007-anniversary
  73. https://www.npr.org/2024/03/13/1238225227/documentary-revisits-the-iraqi-national-soccer-team-s-victory-in-the-2007-asian
  74. https://analyisport.com/insights/what-is-the-asian-cup/
  75. https://kids.kiddle.co/AFC_Asian_Cup
  76. https://discover.hubpages.com/sports/The-2007-AFC-Asian-Cup-Review
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  78. https://www.newarab.com/opinion/making-impossible-possible-when-iraq-won-asian-cup
  79. https://alfasselnews.com/en_GB/articles/gc1/features/2025/08/08/feature-06
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