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The AFC U17 Asian Cup returns after a five-year hiatus with Thailand set to host the 2023 edition on June 15 – July 2.
A springboard for Asia’s rising stars, the tournament formerly known as the AFC U16 Championship counts the likes of Son Heung-min of South Korea and Japan’s Takumi Minamino as among its graduates.
Join AFC Media as take a look at some facts and figures from the previous editions of the tournament.
EIGHTEEN
Introduced in 1996, 18 editions have been held since, with the tournament moving to a biennial affair after the first two championships.
ELEVEN
Given the competitiveness of age-group competitions, 11 different nations have lifted the trophy.
THREE
Japan lead the way with three titles – in 1994, 2006 and 2018. DPR Korea, South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have each won the title twice.
EIGHT
Among the 16 teams vying for the title in Thailand 2023 will be eight sides who have emerged champions before – China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and Uzbekistan.
FIVE
While Qatar may have only won the title once – in 1990 – they have emerged runners-up five times – 1985, 1986, 1992, 1994 and 1998.
NIL
There will be no debutant side in Thailand 2023 but Laos are making a return after missing the last three editions.
TOUGH TO DEFEND
History suggests Japan will have to produce the extraordinary to defend the crown won in 2018, with no side having won back-to-back titles in the history of the tournament.
REGULARS
Japan have appeared in 15 of the previous 18 editions of the tournament while South Korea and China qualified 14 times previously.
