China at the AFC Asian Cup

China is one of the most prestigious teams in Asia, having participated in the AFC Asian Cup since 1976 and they have frequently considered as one of the contender for the Asian trophy in the tournament.

That's said, however, China had never lifted any Asian Cup title, having played in two finals and all ended with losses. Meanwhile, China also suffered embarrassing results, having been eliminated from the group stage three times. Some teams that have participated a bit later like Saudi Arabia, Japan, Iraq and Australia, both later were successful to lift their Asian Cup titles in respecting years, leaving China the only major Asian team to not win any Asian Cup trophy.

Asian Cup record
AFC Asian Cup record AFC Asian Cup qualification
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA
1956 to 1972Did not enter ------
1976Third place3rd411224 ------
1980Group stage7th411295 ------
1984Runners-up2nd6402114 ------
1988Fourth place4th622275 ------
1992Third place3rd513166 ------
1996Quarter-finals8th410367 ------
2000Fourth place4th6222117 ------
2004Runners-up2nd6321136 ------
2007Group stage9th311176 ------
2011Group stage9th311144 ------
2015Quarter-finals7th430154 ------
2019Quarter-finals6th530277 ------
2023Qualified as host ------
Total 13/18 0 Titles 51 23 13 20 88 65

China at Iran 1976
Main article: 1976 AFC Asian Cup

Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Kuwait 220030+34
 China PR 201112−11
 Malaysia 201113−21
China PR 1–1 Malaysia
Wang Jilian  58' Mokhtar  50'
Bagh Shomal Stadium, Tabriz
Kuwait 1–0 China PR
Kameel  1'
Bagh Shomal Stadium, Tabriz

Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Iran 2–0 (a.e.t.) China PR
Khorshidi  100'
Roshan  119'
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Asami (Japan)
Third place play-off
Iraq 0–1 China PR
He Jia  61'

China at Kuwait 1980
Main article: 1980 AFC Asian Cup

Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Iran 4220124+86
 North Korea 430197+26
 Syria 421132+15
 China PR 411295+43
 Bangladesh 4004217−150
North Korea 2–1 China PR
Kim Bok-man  20' Li Fubao  7'
Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, Kuwait City
China PR 2–2 Iran
Chen Jingang  74'
Xu Yonglai  89'		 Alidousti  35'
Fariba  70'
Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, Kuwait City
Attendance: 10,000
Syria 1–0 China PR
Keshek  86'
Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, Kuwait City
China PR 6–0 Bangladesh
Shen Xiangfu
Xu Yonglai
Sabah Al-Salem Stadium, Kuwait City

China at Singapore 1984
Main article: 1984 AFC Asian Cup

Group B
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 China PR 4301102+86
 Iran 422061+56
 United Arab Emirates 420238−54
 Singapore 411234−13
 India 401307−71
Iran 2 – 0 China PR
Mohammadkhani  57'
Arabshahi  69'
Attendance: 19,000
Singapore 0 – 2 China PR
Jia Xiuquan  21'
Zhao Dayu  39'
Attendance: 20,752
Referee: Ahmed Jassim (Bahrain)
China PR 3 – 0 India
Lin Lefeng  19'
Gu Guangming  59'
Jia Xiuquan  79'
Attendance: 8,256
Referee: Ahmed Jassim (Bahrain)
China PR 5 – 0 United Arab Emirates
Yang Zhaohui  12'
Jia Xiuquan  20'
Zuo Shusheng  36'
Zhao Dayu  52'
Gu Guangming  67'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Shizuo Takada (Japan)

Knockout stage
Semi-finals
China PR 1 – 0 (a.e.t.) Kuwait
Li Huayun  108'
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Augusto Lamo (Spain)
Final
Saudi Arabia 2 – 0 China PR
Al-Nafisah  10'
Abdullah  46'
Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Shizuo Takada (Japan)

China at Qatar 1988
Main article: 1988 AFC Asian Cup

Group B
Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Saudi Arabia 6422041+3
 China PR 5421163+3
 Syria 4420225−3
 Kuwait 3403123−1
 Bahrain 2402213−2
China PR 3–0 Syria
Gao Sheng  13'
Xie Yuxin  14', 19'		 Report
Qatar SC Stadium, Doha
Bahrain 0–1 China PR
Report Zhang Xiaowen  78'
Qatar SC Stadium, Doha
Kuwait 2–2 China PR
Adel Abbas  60' (pen.)
Mansour Basha  62'		 Report Ma Lin  10', 87'
Al-Ahly Stadium, Doha
China PR 0–1 Saudi Arabia
Report Al-Bishi  56'
Al-Ahly Stadium, Doha

Knockout stage
Semi-finals
South Korea 2–1 (a.e.t.) China PR
Lee Tae-Ho  93', 103' Report Mai Chao  100'
Qatar SC Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Vincent Mauro (United States)
Third place play-off
China PR 0–0 Iran
Report
Penalties
Duan Ju
Wang Baoshan
Wu Wenbing 		0–3 Moharrami
Ansarifard
Ghayeghran
Al-Ahly Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Ahmad Bash (Jordan)

China at Japan 1992
Main article: 1992 AFC Asian Cup

Group B
Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Saudi Arabia 5312062+4
 China PR 5312032+1
 Qatar 2302134−1
 Thailand 2302115−4
Saudi Arabia 1–1 China PR
Al-Thunayan  17' Report Li Bing  41'
Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Shinichiro Obata (Japan)
China PR 0–0 Thailand
Report
Hiroshima Stadium, Hiroshima
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Noh Byung-Il (Korea Republic)
Qatar 1–2 China PR
Al-Sulaiti  20' Report Peng Weiguo  44', 58'
Bingo Sports Park, Onomichi
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Badara Sène (Senegal)

Knockout stage
Semi-finals
Japan 3–2 China PR
Fukuda  48'
Kitazawa  57'
Nakayama  84'		 Report Xie Yuxin  1'
Li Xiao  70'
Hiroshima Stadium, Hiroshima
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Hossein Khoshkhan (Iran)
Third place play-off
China PR 1–1 United Arab Emirates
Hao Haidong  15' Report Ismail  10'
Penalties
4–3
Hiroshima Big Arch, Hiroshima
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Neji Jouini (Tunisia)

China at the UAE 1996
Main article: 1996 AFC Asian Cup

Group C
Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 Japan 9330071+6
 China PR 33102330
 Syria 3310236−3
 Uzbekistan 3310236−3
China PR 0–2 Uzbekistan
Report Shkvyrin  78'
Shatskikh  90'
Tahnoun Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Abdul Rahman Al-Zeid (Saudi Arabia)
Syria 0–3 China PR
Report Ma Mingyu  35'
Gao Feng  49'
Li Bing  73'
Tahnoun Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Kim Young-Joo (Korea Republic)
Japan 1–0 China PR
Soma  90' Report
Tahnoun Bin Mohamed Stadium, Al Ain
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Abdul Rahman Al-Zeid (Saudi Arabia)

Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
Saudi Arabia 4–3 China PR
Al-Thunayan  31', 65'
Al-Jaber  34'
Al-Mehallel  43'		 Report Zhang Enhua  6', 89'
Peng Weiguo  16'
Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Attendance: 5,000

China in Lebanon 2000
Main article: 2000 AFC Asian Cup

Group B
Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 China PR 5312062+4
 Kuwait 5312010+1
 South Korea 4311153+2
 Indonesia 1301207−7
South Korea 2–2 China PR
Lee Young-Pyo  30'
Noh Jung-Yoon  58'		 Report Su Maozhen  36'
Fan Zhiyi  66' (pen.)
International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Omer Al-Mehannah (Saudi Arabia)
China PR 4–0 Indonesia
Li Ming  2'
Shen Si  7' (pen.)
Yang Chen  10'
Qi Hong  90'		 Report
International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Nabil Ayad (Lebanon)
China PR 0–0 Kuwait
Report
International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli
Attendance: 5,000

Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
China PR 3–1 Qatar
Li Ming  9'
Qi Hong  38'
Yang Chen  54'		 Report Al-Enazi  65'
Attendance: 3,000
Semi-finals
China PR 2–3 Japan
Qi Hong  30'
Yang Chen  48'		 Report Fan Zhiyi  21' (o.g.)
Nishizawa  53'
Myojin  61'
Attendance: 5,000
Third place play-off
South Korea 1–0 China PR
Lee Dong-Gook  76' Report
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Nabil Ayad (Lebanon)

China at China 2004
Main article: 2004 AFC Asian Cup

It was the first time ever China had hosted the Asian Cup. Previously, China was mostly known for hosting several youth and women's tournaments, but hosting such a big tournament like the Asian Cup was China's first time ever to do.[1] Having qualified to the 2002 World Cup two years ago, China was believed to be a tough contender, and they proved it until the final.

Group A
Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
 China PR 7321082+6
 Bahrain 5312064+2
 Indonesia 3310239−6
 Qatar 1301224−2
China PR 2–2 Bahrain
Zheng Zhi  58' (pen.)
Li Jinyu  66'		 Report M. Hubail  41'
Ali  89'
Workers Stadium, Beijing
Attendance: 40,000
Indonesia 0–5 China PR
Report Shao Jiayi  25', 66'
Hao Haidong  40'
Li Ming  51'
Li Yi  80'
Workers Stadium, Beijing
Attendance: 48,000
Referee: Talaat Najm (Lebanon)
China PR 1–0 Qatar
Xu Yunlong  77' Report
Workers Stadium, Beijing
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Masoud Moradi (Iran)

Knockout stage
Quarter-finals
China PR 3–0 Iraq
Hao Haidong  8'
Zheng Zhi  81' (pen.), 90+2' (pen.)		 Report
Workers Stadium, Beijing
Attendance: 60,000
Semi-finals
China PR 1–1 (a.e.t.) Iran
Shao Jiayi  18' Report Alavi  38'
Penalties
Zheng Zhi
Zhao Junzhe
Li Xiaopeng
Sun Xiang
Shao Jiayi 		4–3 Daei
Mahdavikia
Nekounam
Mobali
Golmohammadi
Workers Stadium, Beijing
Attendance: 55,000[2]
Referee: Talaat Najm (Lebanon)
Final
China PR 1–3 Japan
Li Ming  31' Report Fukunishi  22'
Nakata  65'
Tamada  90+1'
Workers Stadium, Beijing
Attendance: 62,000

China at Indonesia/Malaysia/Thailand/Vietnam 2007
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup

The tournament was considered as the most disappointing tournament for China since 1980, due to China went out very early in the group stage, despite being considered as a contender for the Asian Cup title. The shocking 0–3 defeat to Uzbekistan in the final match was the key reason behind the humiliating elimination, as Uzbekistan back then was not even considered as a tough opponent.

Group C
Main article: 2007 AFC Asian Cup Group C
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Iran 321063+37
 Uzbekistan 320192+76
 China PR 311176+14
 Malaysia 3003112−110
Malaysia 1–5 China PR
Mahayuddin  74' Report Han Peng  15', 55'
Shao Jiayi  36'
Wang Dong  51', 90+3'
Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
Attendance: 21,155
Referee: Muhsen Basma (Syria)
China PR 2–2 Iran
Shao Jiayi  7'
Mao Jianqing  33'		 Report Zandi  45+1'
Nekounam  74'
Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
Attendance: 5,938
Referee: Khalil Al-Ghamdi (Saudi Arabia)
Uzbekistan 3–0 China PR
Shatskikh  72'
Kapadze  86'
Geynrikh  90+4'		 Report
Attendance: 2,200

China at Qatar 2011
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup

China failed to qualify for the second times in the Asian Cup, as they ended up again in the group stage. Their performance received criticisms from fans and medias.

Group A
Main article: 2011 AFC Asian Cup Group A
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Uzbekistan 321063+37
 Qatar 320152+36
 China PR 31114404
 Kuwait 300317−60
8 January 2011
Kuwait 0–2 China PR
12 January 2011
China PR 0–2 Qatar
16 January 2011
China PR 2–2 Uzbekistan

China at Australia 2015
Main article: 2015 AFC Asian Cup

The tournament was considered a success, as China for the first time ever, to win the group stage since 2004 and went into the quarter-finals, before eliminated by later champions and host Australia.

Group B
Main article: 2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  China PR 3 3 0 0 5 2 +3 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6
3  Saudi Arabia 3 1 0 2 5 5 0 3
4  North Korea 3 0 0 3 2 7 −5 0
Source: Asian Cup Australia 2015
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
10 January 2015
Saudi Arabia 0–1 China PRBrisbane Stadium, Brisbane
14 January 2015
China PR 2–1 UzbekistanBrisbane Stadium, Brisbane
18 January 2015
China PR 2–1 North KoreaCanberra Stadium, Canberra

Knockout stage
Main article: 2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage
Quarter-finals
China PR 0–2 Australia
Report Cahill  48', 65'
Attendance: 46,067[3]

China at the UAE 2019
Main article: 2019 AFC Asian Cup

Group C
Main article: 2019 AFC Asian Cup Group C
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  South Korea 3 3 0 0 4 0 +4 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  China PR 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6
3  Kyrgyzstan 3 1 0 2 4 4 0 3
4  Philippines 3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0
Source: AFC
China PR 2–1 Kyrgyzstan
 Report
Attendance: 1,839
Philippines 0–3 China PR
Report
Attendance: 16,013
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
South Korea 2–0 China PR
 Report
Attendance: 13,579

Knockout stage
Main article: 2019 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage
Round of 16
Thailand 1–2 China PR
 Report
Attendance: 8,026
Quarter-finals
China PR 0–3 Iran
Report
Attendance: 19,578

China at China 2023
Main article: 2023 AFC Asian Cup

China will host the AFC Asian Cup once again in 2023, 19 years after hosting in 2004.

References
  1. "2004 Asian Cup in China". topendsports.com. Top End Sports. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  2. "AFC Asian Cup 2004". teammelli.com. Team Melli. 1 June 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  3. Bilton, Dean (January 22, 2015). "Asian Cup 2015: Australia v China as it happened". ABC News.
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