AFC Asian Cup 2023: Japan's fixtures, schedule, squad, telecast and more

The Samurai Blue would aim to win the AFC Asian Cup for the fifth time.

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qatar, will be the 18th edition of Asia’s biggest and most prestigious football tournament. The tournament involves 24 teams, who have been divided into six groups of four each. 

Japan are one of the most exciting footballing nations in the world. Their development model from the grassroots to the senior side have made the world notice their untapped potential in recent years. Their recent successes against the footballing giants have transformed and evolved the Japanese football.

Young talents like Takefusa Kubo and Karou Mitoma have taken the limelight throughout the World and the island nation would bank on their young talents and philosophy to take on the other Asian powerhouses.

Teams 

Group D 

Japan

Iraq

Indonesia

Vietnam

Format

The 24 participating nations have all been divided into six groups of four teams each, where they will compete in a single round robin format. 

Upon the completion of all group games, the top two teams from the group will make it to the knockouts, whereas the best four among the third-placed teams will qualify for the round of 16. 

Thereon, the teams will play in a series of single-legged knockout games, that will ultimately lead to the showdown for the continent’s most prestigious football title.

Tiebreakers

Teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings:

1. Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
4. If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams are still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
5. Goal difference in all group matches;
6. Goals scored in all group matches;
7. Penalty shoot-out if only two teams are tied and they are playing each other in the last round of the group;
8. Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
9. Drawing of lots.

Venue

The 2023 AFC Asian Cup will be played across five different cities, which include a total of nine stadiums, among which there is the Lusail Stadium, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.

Among the other stadiums, are Al Bayt Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Education City Stadium, Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, Khalifa International Stadium, Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, Al Thumama Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium.

Telecast 

The AFC Asian Cup matches will be telecast live on Sports18 Network. Live streaming of the AFC Asian Cup will be available on the JioCinema app and website. For worldwide broadcast, click here.

Japan’s fixtures at the 2023 Asian Cup

Date	Fixture	Time (IST)
January14	Japan 4-2 Vietnam – Report	5:00 PM
January 17	Iraq 2-1 Japan – Report	5:00 PM
January 22	Japan 3-1 Indonesia – Report	5:00 PM

AFC Asian Cup 2023 Japan Men’s football team – full squad

Goalkeepers: Daiya Maekawa, Zion Suzuki , Taishi Brandon Nozawa

Defenders: Shogo Taniguchi, Kou Itakura, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Yuta Nakayama, Koki Machida, Seiya Maikuma, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hiroki Ito, Yukinari Sugawara 

Midfielders / Forwards: Wataru Endo , Junya Ito , Takuma Asano , Takumi Minamino , Hidemasa Morita , Kaoru Mitoma , Daizen Maeda , Reo Hatate , Ritsu Doan , Ayase Ueda, Keito Nakamura , Kaishu Sano , Takefusa Kubo , Mao Hosoya

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