Back
Peter Green - January 10, 2024
The AFC Asian Cup showcases the potential of strong teams from the continent. Teams like Japan, South Korea, Iran, Qatar, and Australia are among the favorites to perform well in the tournament, given their strong footballing traditions and past successes in the Asian Cup.
The tournament comprises six groups and a total of 24 teams. Group D includes Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Iraq. Bookmakers favor Japan due to their numerous Asian Cup titles. They reached the final last time but lost to Qatar.
Moving forward, Vietnam enters their fifth Asian Cup appearance, while Indonesia makes their fifth entry as well. However, Japan’s primary competition in the group is expected to be Iran, who have participated in 14 Asian Cup championships.
Japan, a powerhouse in Asian football, enters the tournament with a strong and experienced squad aiming to assert their dominance as in past seasons. With a rich footballing history and previous successes in the Asian Cup, they are widely considered favorites for the title, despite their loss to Qatar last season.
Vietnam has participated in four Asian Cup campaigns and reached the quarterfinals in all. They achieved fourth place twice as South Vietnam. Post-1976, they have not progressed beyond the quarterfinals. Their aim this time is to advance deeper into the tournament.
Indonesia aims for their maiden knockout stage entry in the Asian Cup but lacks an impressive history in the competition. Moreover, they are currently on a four-match winless run. Coach Shin Tae-yong hopes to guide them to their first knockout match despite weaker performances compared to others in Group D.
Iran, the second-best team in Group D based on experience and track record, has played 13 Asian Cup campaigns. This season marks their 14th entry. They won three titles in a row from 1968 to 1976. However, their best performance since 1976 is third place. They aim to end a 51-year title drought this season.
Japan enters this season following a nine-match winning streak across all competitions, defeating teams like Germany and Turkey. They are expected to showcase their prowess by finishing atop the Group D table.
Iran is likely to secure the second spot, given their experience since 1968 and consistent quarterfinals level finishes since 1992. Vietnam is predicted for third position, maintaining their consistency across their four Asian Cup seasons. Indonesia, yet to see a knockout match in the Asian Cup, might finish at the bottom due to the strong teams in Group D.
