When Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on 1 January 2006, many agreed the most valued reward would be a fairer qualification path to the World Cup. Having finally turned our backs on the ruthless two-leg play-off system, Australians can look forward to qualification through Asia. Beginning now though, the move represents so much more... we are on the path to the 2007 Asian Cup.

Eyes on the prize

Before joining the AFC, Socceroo supporters had a mere handful of meaningful international fixtures every four years. Australia’s inclusion in AFC tournaments however, presents many more opportunities to support the Socceroos in full competitive internationals. Can we dare to dream that Australia will earn AFC Cup glory on its very first attempt?

The AFC is the world’s largest football association, with 46 member nations – whose populations equate to more than half the world’s population. Geographically, AFC nations cover half the globe. As the AFC’s marquee competition, the Asian Cup comes with a rich history, millions of viewers, some of the world’s most entertaining football and the football world’s respect. The ambition to hold it aloft is what unites nations as distant and diverse as Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Japan and now Australia.


Rich history
The first Asian Cup tournament was devised by the 12 members of the newly formed AFC in 1954 to help strengthen football in the region. Eventually held in Hong Kong in 1956 (50 years ago and in the same year as the Melbourne Olympic Games), the first tournament featured seven of the AFC’s member nations. Since then, the tournament has been held every four years with a range of competing nations, hosts and victors.

Korea and Israel dominated the first three Asian Cups, with Korea beating Israel into second place in the first two tournaments. As hosts, Israel came back to win in 1964 ­– less than 10 years later they left the AFC to become a member country of UEFA.

The following three Asian Cup tournaments saw the emergence of Iran, who, aided by hosting the tournament in 1968 and 1976, won a record three consecutive trophies. Despite a total of nine World Cup appearances between them since, neither Korea nor Iran have managed to win another Asian Cup.