2023 Asian Cup Qualified Teams: Who Advanced to the Last 16 of AFC’s Showpiece Event?

• 16 teams have qualified for the knockout round of the 2023 Asian Cup
• The hosts, Qatar made it through as one of the group-stage winners
• Powerhouses, South Korea and Japan also advanced to the Round of 16

The cast is complete for the last 16 of the 2023 Asian Cup.

Qatar, South Korea, and Japan are among the teams who will compete in the knockout stage.

Sports Brief looks at the countries that made it to the round of 16 of AFC's showpiece event.

2023 Asian Cup Qualified Teams

Qatar (Group A)

The hosts remained on course to defend their Asian Cup title, winning all of their matches in Group A. They defeated Lebanon (3-0), Tajikistan (1-0), and China (1-0) to top the group with nine points.

They will next face Palestine in the last 16, per Sports Illustrated.

AFCON 2023: 6 times defending champions have failed to advance past the group stage

Football

Tajikistan (Group A)

The Crowns grabbed a spot in the last 16 after finishing second in Group A. They qualified for the knockout round after beating 10-man Lebanon 2-1 in their final group match.

They will next face the United Arab Emirates in the round of 16.

Australia (Group B)

The Socceroos booked a spot in the last 16 after finishing top of Group B. They went undefeated in the group stage, recording a 1-1 draw against Uzbekistan and pulling off victories over India and Syria.

They will next face Indonesia in the round of 16.

Uzbekistan (Group B)

The White Wolves clinched a spot in the last 16 after finishing second in Group B. They also went unbeaten in the group stage, beating India 3-0 and recording draws against Syria and Australia.

They will next face Thailand in the round of 16.

Top 8 countries that have never won a game at the AFCON as Namibia secures first win

Football

Iran (Group C)

Iran will head into the round of 16 with momentum on their side after sweeping their matches in Group C. They defeated the United Arab Emirates, Palestine, and Hong Kong to finish the group stage with the nine-point maximum.

Team Melli will next face Syria in the last 16.

United Arab Emirates (Group C)

UAE secured a place in the last 16 after finishing second in Group C. They reached the knockout stage despite losing their final group match against Iran.

They will next face Tajikistan in the round of 16.

Iraq (Group D)

Iraq stamped their class in Group D, sweeping their matches to finish with nine points. They defeated Japan, Indonesia, and Vietnam to advance to the next round.

They will next face Jordan in the last 16.

Japan (Group D)

Samurai Blue's loss to Iraq in the group stage didn't prevent them from advancing to the round of 16. They defeated Indonesia and Vietnam in their other matches to qualify as the second-placed team in Group D.

South Africa at AFCON: Comparing Bafana Bafana and Springboks’ Achievements on the World Stage

Football

Japan will square off against Bahrain in the last 16.

Bahrain (Group E)

Bahrain booked a spot in the last 16 after finishing top of Group E. They recorded wins over Malaysia and Jordan to finish first place in a group that also featured powerhouse team South Korea.

They will next face Japan in the round of 16.

South Korea (Group E)

The Taegeuk Warriors clinched a spot in the last 16 after finishing second in Group E. They dropped to second place after conceding a late goal in their final group match against Malaysia.

South Korea will square off against Saudi Arabia in the round of 16.

Saudi Arabia (Group F)

The Falcons booked a place in the last 16 after finishing top of Group F. They went undefeated in the group stage, recording wins over Oman and Kyrgyzstan and a goalless draw against Thailand.

AFCON 2023 Group B Permutations: What Egypt and Ghana Must Do to Qualify for the Last 16

Football

They will next face South Korea in the round of 16.

Thailand (Group F)

The War Elephants clinched a berth in the last 16 after finishing second in Group F. They also went unbeaten in the group stage, beating Kyrgyzstan in their opening match and recording draws against Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Thailand will next lock horns with Uzbekistan in the round of 16.

Syria (Group B)

Nosour Qasioun booked a spot in the round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams in the tournament.

Syria finished their group campaign with four points, recording one win, one draw, and one loss.

They will next face Iran in the last 16.

Palestine (Group C)

Palestine qualified for the round of 16 of the Asian Cup for the first time in their history following their win over Hong Kong, per NPR.

They secured a place in the knockout round as one of the four best third-placed sides in this year's Asian Cup.

AFCON 2023 Group C Permutations: What Cameroon and Guinea Must Do to Qualify for the Last 16

Football

They will next face Qatar in the last 16.

Indonesia (Group D)

Indonesia qualified for the last 16 of the Asian Cup for the first time in their history after ending the group stage as one of the four best third-placed teams in the tournament.

They reached the knockout round thanks in large part to their win over 10-man Vietnam on Matchday 2.

They will next face Australia in the round of 16.

Jordan (Group E)

Jordan secured a place in the last 16 after finishing third in Group E. They reached the knockout stage despite losing their final group match against Bahrain.

They will next face Iraq in the round of 16.

AFCON 2023 Round of 16 matchups

Sports Brief also previously reported on the AFCON 2023 last-16 matchups.

The games to watch are Cameroon versus Nigeria and Ivory Coast vs. Senegal.

Host nation, Ivory Coast qualified after Morocco won their final group match.