2015 AFC Asian Cup#Group A

Australia initially put forward its bid to host the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in 2010.{{cite web |title=Australia's bid to host 2015 AFC Asian Cup |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/australias-bid-to-host-2015-afc-asian-cup/1dycpy337r16q1oop27e6qcu55 |publisher=footballaustralia.com.au |access-date=2 January 2015}} As the sole bidder for the hosting rights, Australia was officially named host on 5 January 2011.{{cite web |title=Australia to host 2015 AFC Asian Cup |url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/135/950/4/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925003757/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/135/950/4/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 September 2014 |publisher=FIFA |access-date=2 January 2015}}

{{blockquote|Considering the efforts of the Football Federation Australia in developing the game on their territory and considering also all the achievements that have been made towards the development of football in Australia and to encourage Australia to take steps towards developing the game, I am happy and honoured to announce that the executive committee of the Asian Football Confederation has approved Australia as the host nation of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.|AFC President, Mohammed Bin Hammam{{cite news|url=http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/australia-to-host-2015-afc-asian-cup |title=Australia to host 2015 AFC Asian Cup |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=5 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023004129/http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/australia-to-host-2015-afc-asian-cup |archive-date=23 October 2014 }}}}

{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification}}

The 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification process determined the 16 participating teams for the tournament. In the initial scheme, ten places were determined by qualification matches, while six places were reserved for the 2015 host nation, top three finishers in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, and the two winners of the AFC Challenge Cup. Though, as the host nation Australia also finished as runners-up in the 2011 Asian Cup, the initial six automatic qualification spots were reduced to five, with a total of 11 spots eventually determined by the qualification matches, in which 20 AFC members competed.{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-asian-cup-news/inside-afc-asian-cup/32914-automatic-bye-to-2015-finals-for-top-three- |title=Automatic bye to 2015 Finals for top-three |publisher=the-afc.com |date=24 January 2011}}

There were two main competitive paths to the 2015 Asian Cup. The AFC Challenge Cup acted as a qualification competition for eligible countries within the emerging and developing category of member associations. The winners of the AFC Challenge Cup competitions in 2012 and 2014 qualified automatically for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup finals.{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/inside-afc/676-afc-news/31494-afc-competitions-committee- |title=AFC Competitions Committee |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=24 January 2011}} The remaining spots were available for the teams competing in the main Asian Cup preliminaries. The AFC decided that the 20 teams involved in the qualifiers would be split into five groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group and one best third-placed team from among all the groups would qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-asian-cup-australia-2015%E2%84%A2-preliminary-draw-results |title=AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 preliminary draw results |publisher=the-afc.com |date=9 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023000743/http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-asian-cup-australia-2015%E2%84%A2-preliminary-draw-results |archive-date=23 October 2014 }}

Out of the sixteen teams that qualified, fourteen had participated in the 2011 tournament. Oman qualified for the first time since 2007. Palestine, winners of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, were the only team making their first appearance in the tournament. India and Syria are the only two teams from the 2011 tournament who failed to qualify for the subsequent edition. Excluding hosts Australia, none of the other 11 members of the ASEAN Football Federation qualified, nor did any of the South Asian national teams.

File:2015 AFC Asian Cup Qualification.png

File:Sydney Opera House, botanic gardens 1.jpg, location for the final draw]]

The draw for the final tournament occurred at the Sydney Opera House on 26 March 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2015/afc-asian-cup-draw-set-for-march-26-at-sydney-opera-house |title=AFC Asian Cup draw set for March 26 at Sydney Opera House |publisher=AFC |date=6 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023004244/http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2015/afc-asian-cup-draw-set-for-march-26-at-sydney-opera-house |archive-date=23 October 2014 }} The draw procedure involved the 16 participating teams drawn at random into the four groups of the group stage.{{cite web|url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/afc-asian-cup-groups-decided/182xrxxa3z9ve1pbb6ddwncp5h |title=AFC Asian Cup Groups Decided |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=26 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328212924/http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/afc-asian-cup-groups-decided/182xrxxa3z9ve1pbb6ddwncp5h |archive-date=28 March 2014 }} In preparation for this, the teams were organised into four pots based on a seeding which used the March 2014 FIFA World Rankings (rankings beside the qualified teams). The draw and seeding ensured a fair distribution of teams in the groups, with each of the four groups in the group stage made up of one team from each pot. The host nation (Australia) was automatically placed into Pot 1, with the team having been predetermined to be in Group A.{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2015/asian-cup-2015-draw-mechanism-revealed |title=Asian Cup 2015 draw mechanism revealed |publisher=AFC |date=17 March 2014}} In addition, at the time of the draw, the identity of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup winners (Palestine) was not known yet, and they were automatically placed into Pot 4.

The five host cities for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Newcastle, were announced on 27 March 2013, with a total five stadiums to be used.{{cite web|title=Venues and Match Schedule |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/site/_content/document/00001214-source.pdf |publisher=footballaustralia.com.au |access-date=27 March 2013 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Clear}}

Tickets for the venues were sold directly by AFC via its website, or distributed by the football associations of the 16 finalists. 500,000 tickets were available for the 31 tournament matches.{{cite web |title=Publicity blitz set to boost Asian Cup attendances |url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/11/25/publicity-blitz-set-boost-asian-cup-attendances |publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au |access-date=8 December 2014}} Over 45,000 international visitors were forecast to visit Australia during the tournament.{{cite web |title=Qualifying for AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 begins |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/qualifying-for-afc-asian-cup-australia-2015-begins/60164 |publisher=footballaustralia.com.au |access-date=8 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214072904/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/qualifying-for-afc-asian-cup-australia-2015-begins/60164 |archive-date=14 December 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} Prices varied from $10 (for a seat behind the goals at a group match) to $150 (for a seat in the main stand at the final). In addition to individual match tickets, fans could buy packages to see all matches played at one specific venue.{{cite web |title=Tickets |url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/ticketshome/en/ |publisher=afcasiancup.com |access-date=18 November 2014 |archive-date=12 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112021828/http://www.afcasiancup.com/ticketshome/en |url-status=dead }}

Each team had a "team base camp" for its stay between the matches. From an initial list of 27 potential locations, the national associations chose their locations in 2014.{{cite web |title=27 more cities keen to join Asian Cup party |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/27-more-cities-keen-to-join-Asian-Cup-party/79143 |publisher=footballaustralia.com.au |access-date=18 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129061217/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/27-more-cities-keen-to-join-Asian-Cup-party/79143 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} The teams trained and resided in these locations throughout the tournament, travelling to games staged away from their bases.{{cite web |title=2015 Asian Cup |url=http://www.nswtaxi.org.au/sites/default/files/20141109%20-%20MED%20-%20Stakeholder%20update.pdf |publisher=nswtaxi.org.au |access-date=25 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930080823/http://www.nswtaxi.org.au/sites/default/files/20141109%20-%20MED%20-%20Stakeholder%20update.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

{{Main|Nike Ordem 2}}

The Nike Ordem 2 was announced as the official 2015 Asian Cup match ball on 1 October 2014. The ball features the traditional colors of the tournament. The mainly white ball has a distinctive design with a mainly red graphic pattern and yellow details for better visibility. It shows the official 2015 AFC Asian Cup logo as well as a black Swoosh. The ball provided a design for real flight, accuracy and control, and features Nike Aerowtrac grooves and a micro-textured casing. Nike RaDaR (Rapid Decision and Response) technology with a unique graphic upper is also utilised in the design to see the ball faster while the three-layer synthetic upper made for optimal touch.{{cite web |title=Nike 2015 AFC Asian Cup Ball Unveiled |url=http://www.footyheadlines.com/2014/11/nike-2015-afc-asian-cup-ball.html |publisher=footyheadlines.com |access-date=23 November 2014}}

Ordem 2 was the Asian Cup's last match ball provided by Nike.

On 1 January 2015, the AFC named 47 match officials for the tournament, including referees, assistant referees, fourth officials, and reserve assistant referees. Each main refereeing team (of which there were eleven) consisted of three match officials from the same country: one referee and two assistant referees.{{cite web |title=2015 AFC Asian Cup (Australia) - selected officials |date=January 2015 |url=http://refereesfifa.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/2015-afc-asian-cup-australia-selected.html |publisher=refereesfifa.com.au |access-date=2 January 2015}} The AFC decided three match officials from New Zealand would take part in the tournament, despite the country being in the Oceania Football Confederation. Match officials based together in Sydney, during the Asian Cup, where they trained together, had technical meetings, conduct match reviews and previews, and only split when attending appointments at the five Asian Cup stadiums in Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne.{{cite web|title=Asian Cup 2015: A-League could have full-time match officials as early as 2017|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/asian-cup/asian-cup-2015-a-league-could-have-full-time-match-officials-as-early-as-2017/story-e6frf4fu-1227192284440|publisher=foxsports.com.au|access-date=23 January 2015}} Australian referee Chris Beath, who was a fourth official before the start of the tournament, was promoted for one match when Uzbek referee Valentin Kovalenko had to withdraw due to illness.

Six match officials, who served as fourth officials, and eight reserve assistant referees, who served as fifth officials, were also named:

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{{Main|2015 AFC Asian Cup squads}}

As with the 2011 tournament, each team's squad consisted of 23 players (three of whom had to be goalkeepers). Each participating national association had to confirm their final 23-player squad no later than ten days before the start of the tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/i/AsianCup/img/pdfs/2015_Competition_Regulations.pdf |title=Competition Regulations – AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527214302/http://www.afcasiancup.com/i/AsianCup/img/pdfs/2015_Competition_Regulations.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2014 }} Teams were permitted to make late replacements in the event of serious injury, at any time up to 6 hours before their first game. During a match, all remaining squad members not named in the starting team were available to be one of the three permitted substitutions (provided the player was not serving a suspension).

The group stage of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup took place from 9–20 January 2015: each team played three games, with the winners and runners-up from each group advancing to the knockout stage. The group stage was notable for finishing without a draw. In doing so, it became the first major international football tournament since the 1930 FIFA World Cup to record a result for every group stage match. Additionally, it surpassed the record of consecutive results at a tournament – 18 – also set at the 1930 World Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/asiancup/news/newsid/250/862/8/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121025642/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/asiancup/news/newsid/250/862/8/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 January 2015 |title=Wins, losses but no draws as Asian Cup hits record |publisher=FIFA}}{{Cite web |date=2015-01-20 |title=Wins, losses but no draws as Asian Cup hits record |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/football/2015/01/20/wins-losses-but-no-draws-as-asian-cup-hits-record |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Will |title=Asian Cup Breaks Record for Most Matches Without a Draw |url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/asian-cup-breaks-record-for-most-matches-without-a-draw-1421653707 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}

{{anchor|Tiebreakers}}

File:2015 AFC Asian Cup opening match Australia Kuwait, 9 January 2015 (6).jpg vs Kuwait]]

{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A}}

{{:2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{Football box

|date=9 January 2015

|time=20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|AUS}}

|score=4–1

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8239&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|KUW}}

|goals1=

• Cahill {{goal|33}}
• Luongo {{goal|45}}
• Jedinak {{goal|62|pen.}}
• Troisi {{goal|90+2}}

|goals2=

• Fadhel {{goal|8}}

|stadium=Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne

|attendance=25,231

|referee=Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

}}

{{Football box

|date=10 January 2015

|time=16:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|KOR}}

|score=1–0

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8240&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|OMA}}

|goals1=

• Cho Young-cheol {{goal|45+1}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Canberra Stadium, Canberra

|attendance=12,552

|referee=Peter O'Leary (New Zealand)

}}

----

{{Football box

|date=13 January 2015

|time=18:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|KUW}}

|score=0–1

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8241&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|KOR}}

|goals1=

|goals2=

• Nam Tae-hee {{goal|36}}

|stadium=Canberra Stadium, Canberra

|attendance=8,795

|referee=Alireza Faghani (Iran)

}}

{{Football box

|date=13 January 2015

|time=20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|OMA}}

|score=0–4

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8242&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|AUS}}

|goals1=

|goals2=

• McKay {{goal|27}}
• Kruse {{goal|30}}
• Milligan {{goal|45+2|pen.}}
• Jurić {{goal|70}}

|stadium=Stadium Australia, Sydney

|attendance=50,276

|referee=Ryuji Sato (Japan)

}}

----

{{Football box

|date=17 January 2015

|time=19:00 AEST (UTC+10)

|team1={{fb-rt|AUS}}

|score=0–1

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8243&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|KOR}}

|goals1=

|goals2=

• Lee Jung-hyup {{goal|33}}

|stadium=Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

|attendance=48,513

|referee=Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)

}}

{{Football box

|date=17 January 2015

|time=20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|OMA}}

|score=1–0

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8244&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|KUW}}

|goals1=

• Al-Muqbali {{goal|69}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle

|attendance=7,499

|referee=Fahad Al-Mirdasi (Saudi Arabia)

}}

{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B}}

{{:2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{Football box

| date = 10 January 2015

| time = 18:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|UZB}}

| score = 1–0

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8245&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|PRK}}

| goals1 =

• Sergeev {{goal|62}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Stadium Australia, Sydney

| attendance = 12,078

| referee = Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)

}}

{{Football box

| date = 10 January 2015

| time = 19:00 AEST (UTC+10)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|KSA}}

| score = 0–1

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8246&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|CHN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Yu Hai {{goal|81}}

| stadium = Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

| attendance = 12,557

| referee = Alireza Faghani (Iran)

}}

----

{{Football box

| date = 14 January 2015

| time = 18:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|PRK}}

| score = 1–4

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8247&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|KSA}}

| goals1 =

• Ryang Yong-gi {{goal|12}}

| goals2 =

• Hazazi {{goal|37}}
• Al-Sahlawi {{goal|52||54}}
• Al Abed {{goal|76}}

| stadium = Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne

| attendance = 12,349

| referee = Abdullah Al Hilali (Oman)

}}

{{Football box

| date = 14 January 2015

| time = 19:00 AEST (UTC+10)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CHN}}

| score = 2–1

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8248&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|UZB}}

| goals1 =

• Wu Xi {{goal|54}}
• Sun Ke {{goal|68}}

| goals2 =

• Ahmedov {{goal|23}}

| stadium = Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

| attendance = 13,674

| referee = Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)

}}

----

{{Football box

| date = 18 January 2015

| time = 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|UZB}}

| score = 3–1

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8249&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|KSA}}

| goals1 =

• Rashidov {{goal|2||78}}
• Shodiev {{goal|71}}

| goals2 =

• Al-Sahlawi {{goal|60|pen.}}

| stadium = Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne

| attendance = 10,871

| referee = Ben Williams (Australia)

}}

{{Football box

| date = 18 January 2015

| time = 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|CHN}}

| score = 2–1

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8250&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|PRK}}

| goals1 =

• Sun Ke {{goal|1||42}}

| goals2 =

• Gao Lin {{goal|57|o.g.}}

| stadium = Canberra Stadium, Canberra

| attendance = 18,457

| referee = Abdulrahman Abdou (Qatar)

}}

File:AAMI Park 2015 AFC Asian Cup Iran v Bahrain.jpg during the Iran vs Bahrain match]]

{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C}}

{{:2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{Football box

| date = 11 January 2015

| time = 18:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|UAE}}

| score = 4–1

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8252&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|QAT}}

| goals1 =

• Khalil {{goal|37||52}}
• Mabkhout {{goal|56||90}}

| goals2 =

• Ibrahim {{goal|23}}

| stadium = Canberra Stadium, Canberra

| attendance = 5,513

| referee = Kim Jong-hyeok (South Korea)

}}

{{Football box

| date = 11 January 2015

| time = 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|IRN}}

| score = 2–0

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8251&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|BHR}}

| goals1 =

• Hajsafi {{goal|45+1}}
• Shojaei {{goal|71}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne

| attendance = 17,712

| referee = Ben Williams (Australia)

}}

----

{{Football box

| date = 15 January 2015

| time = 18:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|BHR}}

| score = 1–2

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8253&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|UAE}}

| goals1 =

• Okwunwanne {{goal|26}}

| goals2 =

• Mabkhout {{goal|1}}
• Husain {{goal|74|o.g.}}

| stadium = Canberra Stadium, Canberra

| attendance = 7,925

| referee = Chris Beath (Australia)

}}

{{Football box

| date = 15 January 2015

| time = 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|QAT}}

| score = 0–1

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8254&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|IRN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Azmoun {{goal|52}}

| stadium = Stadium Australia, Sydney

| attendance = 22,672

| referee = Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

}}

----

{{Football box

| date = 19 January 2015

| time = 19:00 AEST (UTC+10)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|IRN}}

| score = 1–0

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8255&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|UAE}}

| goals1 =

• Ghoochannejhad {{goal|90+1}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

| attendance = 11,394

| referee = Ryuji Sato (Japan)

}}

{{Football box

| date = 19 January 2015

| time = 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|QAT}}

| score = 1–2

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8256&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|BHR}}

| goals1 =

• Al-Haydos {{goal|68}}

| goals2 =

• Saeed {{goal|34}}
• Ahmed {{goal|82}}

| stadium = Stadium Australia, Sydney

| attendance = 4,841

| referee = Abdullah Al Hilali (Oman)

}}

{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D}}

{{:2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}

{{Football box

| date = 12 January 2015

| time = 18:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

| score = 4–0

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8257&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|PLE}}

| goals1 =

• Endō {{goal|8}}
• Okazaki {{goal|25}}
• Honda {{goal|43|pen.}}
• Yoshida {{goal|49}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle

| attendance = 17,147

| referee = Abdulrahman Abdou (Qatar)

}}

{{Football box

| date = 12 January 2015

| time = 19:00 AEST (UTC+10)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|JOR}}

| score = 0–1

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8258&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|IRQ}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 = * Kasim {{goal|77}}

| stadium = Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

| attendance = 6,840

| referee = Fahad Al-Mirdasi (Saudi Arabia)

}}

----

{{Football box

| date = 16 January 2015

| time = 18:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|PLE}}

| score = 1–5

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8259&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|JOR}}

| goals1 =

• Ihbeisheh {{goal|84}}

| goals2 =

• Al-Rawashdeh {{goal|32}}
• Al-Dardour {{goal|34||45+2||75||79}}

| stadium = Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne

| attendance = 10,808

| referee = Kim Jong-hyeok (South Korea)

}}

{{Football box

| date = 16 January 2015

| time = 19:00 AEST (UTC+10)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|IRQ}}

| score = 0–1

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8260&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|JPN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

• Honda {{goal|23|pen.}}

| stadium = Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

| attendance = 22,941

| referee = Alireza Faghani (Iran)

}}

----

{{Football box

| date = 20 January 2015

| time = 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|JPN}}

| score = 2–0

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8261&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|JOR}}

| goals1 =

• Honda {{goal|24}}
• Kagawa {{goal|82}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne

| attendance = 25,016

| referee = Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

}}

{{Football box

| date = 20 January 2015

| time = 20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

| team1 = {{fb-rt|IRQ}}

| score = 2–0

| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8262&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

| team2 = {{fb|PLE}}

| goals1 =

• Mahmoud {{goal|48}}
• Yasin {{goal|88}}

| goals2 =

| stadium = Canberra Stadium, Canberra

| attendance = 10,235

| referee = Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)

}}

{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage}}

File:Hunter Stadium Day.JPG and the UAE.]]

In all matches in the knockout stage, if the score were level at the end of 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods of extra time would take place. If the score were still level after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Scores after extra time are indicated by (a.e.t.), and penalty shoot-out are indicated by (pen.).

{{#invoke:RoundN |main |columns=3

|widescore=yes |bold_winner=high |3rdplace=yes

|RD1=Quarter-finals

|RD2=Semi-finals

|RD3=Final

|Consol=Third place

|22 January – Melbourne |{{fb|KOR}} {{aet}}|2 |{{fb|UZB}} |0

|23 January – Canberra |{{fb|IRN}} |3 (6)|{{fb|IRQ}} {{pen.}}|3 (7)

|22 January – Brisbane |{{fb|CHN}} |0 |{{fb|AUS}} |2

|23 January – Sydney |{{fb|JPN}} |1 (4) |{{nowrap|{{fb|UAE}} {{pen.}}}}|1 (5)

|26 January – Sydney |{{fb|KOR}} |2 |{{fb|IRQ}} |0

|27 January – Newcastle |{{fb|AUS}} |2 |{{nowrap|{{fb|UAE}}}} |0

|31 January – Sydney |{{fb|KOR}} |1 |{{fb|AUS}} {{aet}}|2

|30 January – Newcastle |{{fb|IRQ}} |2 |{{nowrap|{{fb|UAE}}}}|3

}}

With a 2–0 victory over Uzbekistan in extra time, South Korea set a tournament record for appearing in ten semi-finals. The host country, Australia, reached the final four for the second consecutive time after overcoming China PR by the same score. Iran were eliminated for the third consecutive time in an Asian Cup quarter-final after Iraq defeated Iran in a penalty shootout. The match had ended 3–3 after extra time, not before a sending off which reduced the Iranians to 10 men late in the first half. The United Arab Emirates eliminated reigning champions Japan through a penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw at the end of extra time, marking Japan's worst finish since 1996.

{{Football box

|date=22 January 2015

|time=18:30 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|KOR}}

|score=2–0

|aet=yes

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8263&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|UZB}}

|goals1=Son Heung-min {{goal|104||119}}

|goals2=

|stadium=AAMI Park, Melbourne

|attendance=23,381

|referee=Fahad Al-Mirdasi (Saudi Arabia)

}}

----

{{Football box

|date=22 January 2015

|time=20:30 AEST (UTC+10)

|team1={{fb-rt|CHN}}

|score=0–2

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8264&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|AUS}}

|goals1=

|goals2=Cahill {{goal|48||65}}

|stadium=Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

|attendance=46,067

|referee=Kim Jong-hyeok (South Korea)

}}

----

{{Football box

|date=23 January 2015

|time=17:30 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|IRN}}

|score=3–3

|aet=yes

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8265&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|IRQ}}

|goals1=Azmoun {{goal|24}}
Pouraliganji {{goal|103}}
Ghoochannejhad {{goal|119}}

|goals2=Yasin {{goal|56}}
Mahmoud {{goal|93}}
Ismail {{goal|116|pen.}}

|stadium=Canberra Stadium, Canberra

|attendance=18,921

|referee=Ben Williams (Australia)

|penalties1=Hajsafi {{penmiss}}
Pouraliganji {{pengoal}}
Nekounam {{pengoal}}
Hosseini {{pengoal}}
Ghafouri {{pengoal}}
Jahanbakhsh {{pengoal}}
Teymourian {{pengoal}}
Amiri {{penmiss}}

|penaltyscore=6–7

|penalties2={{penmiss}} Abdul-Amir
{{pengoal}} Salem
{{pengoal}} Ismail
{{pengoal}} Adnan
{{pengoal}} Mahmoud
{{pengoal}} Kasim
{{pengoal}} Hussein
{{pengoal}} Shaker

}}

----

{{Football box

|date=23 January 2015

|time=20:30 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|JPN}}

|score=1–1

|aet=yes

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8266&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|UAE}}

|goals1=Shibasaki {{goal|81}}

|goals2=Mabkhout {{goal|7}}

|stadium=Stadium Australia, Sydney

|attendance=19,094

|referee=Alireza Faghani (Iran)

|penalties1=Honda {{penmiss}}
Hasebe {{pengoal}}
Shibasaki {{pengoal}}
Toyoda {{pengoal}}
Morishige {{pengoal}}
Kagawa {{penmiss}}

|penaltyscore=4–5

|penalties2={{pengoal}} O. Abdulrahman
{{pengoal}} Mabkhout
{{penmiss}} Esmaeel
{{pengoal}} Hassan
{{pengoal}} Fardan
{{pengoal}} I. Ahmed

}}

South Korea reached their first final since 1988, after overcoming Iraq 2–0. With a 2–0 victory against the United Arab Emirates, Australia qualified for their second consecutive final out of only three appearances in the Asian Cup since moving to the Asian Football Confederation from the Oceania Football Confederation in 2006.

{{Football box

|date=26 January 2015

|time=20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|KOR}}

|score=2–0

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8267&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|IRQ}}

|goals1=Lee Jung-hyup {{goal|20}}
Kim Young-gwon {{goal|50}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Stadium Australia, Sydney

|attendance=36,053

|referee=Ryuji Sato (Japan)

}}

----

{{Football box

|date=27 January 2015

|time=20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|AUS}}

|score=2–0

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8268&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|UAE}}

|goals1=Sainsbury {{goal|3}}
Davidson {{goal|14}}

|goals2=

|stadium=Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle

|attendance=21,079

|referee=Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

}}

This was both Iraq's and the United Arab Emirates' second appearances in a third place playoff at the AFC Asian Cup, with the teams contesting in 1976 and 1992 respectively. The United Arab Emirates won the match 3–2 and finished in third-place for the first time.

{{Football box

|date=30 January 2015

|time=20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|IRQ}}

|score=2–3

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8269&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|UAE}}

|goals1=Salim {{goal|28}}
Kalaf {{goal|42}}

|goals2=Khalil {{goal|16||51}}
Mabkhout {{goal|57|pen.}}

|stadium=Newcastle Stadium, Newcastle

|attendance=12,829

|referee=Nawaf Shukralla (Bahrain)

}}

{{Main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Final}}

South Korea entered the match looking for their third Asian Cup title, whereas Australia attempted to win their first. After a late goal by Australia in the first half and another late goal by South Korea in the second half, the match was taken into extra time. Australia eventually won the match 2–1.

{{Football box

|date=31 January 2015

|time=20:00 AEDT (UTC+11)

|team1={{fb-rt|KOR}}

|score=1–2

|aet=yes

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8270&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2={{fb|AUS}}

|goals1=Son Heung-min {{goal|90+1}}

|goals2=Luongo {{goal|45}}
Troisi {{goal|105}}

|stadium=Stadium Australia, Sydney

|attendance=76,385

|referee=Alireza Faghani (Iran)

}}

{{See also|AFC Asian Cup records and statistics}}

Ali Mabkhout of the United Arab Emirates received the Golden Boot award for scoring five goals. In total, 85 goals were scored by 57 different players, with two of them credited as own goals.

;5 goals

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|UAE}} Ali Mabkhout

{{div col end}}

;4 goals

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|JOR}} Hamza Al-Dardour
• {{flagicon|UAE}} Ahmed Khalil

{{div col end}}

;3 goals

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Tim Cahill
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Sun Ke
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Keisuke Honda
• {{flagicon|KSA}} Mohammad Al-Sahlawi
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Son Heung-min

{{div col end}}

;2 goals

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Massimo Luongo
• {{flagicon|AUS}} James Troisi
• {{flagicon|IRN}} Sardar Azmoun
• {{flagicon|IRN}} Reza Ghoochannejhad
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Younis Mahmoud
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Ahmed Yasin
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Lee Jung-hyup
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Sardor Rashidov

{{div col end}}

;1 goal

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Jason Davidson
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Mile Jedinak
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Tomi Juric
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Robbie Kruse
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Matt McKay
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Mark Milligan
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Trent Sainsbury
• {{flagicon|BHR}} Sayed Jaafar Ahmed
• {{flagicon|BHR}} Jaycee John Okwunwanne
• {{flagicon|BHR}} Sayed Saeed
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Wu Xi
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Yu Hai
• {{flagicon|IRN}} Ehsan Hajsafi
• {{flagicon|IRN}} Morteza Pouraliganji
• {{flagicon|IRN}} Masoud Shojaei
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Dhurgham Ismail
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Amjad Kalaf
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Yaser Kasim
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Waleed Salem
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Yasuhito Endō
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Shinji Kagawa
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Shinji Okazaki
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Gaku Shibasaki
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Maya Yoshida
• {{flagicon|JOR}} Yousef Al-Rawashdeh
• {{flagicon|KUW}} Hussain Fadhel
• {{flagicon|PRK}} Ryang Yong-gi
• {{flagicon|OMN}} Abdulaziz Al-Muqbali
• {{flagicon|PLE}} Jaka Ihbeisheh
• {{flagicon|QAT}} Hassan Al-Haydos
• {{flagicon|QAT}} Khalfan Ibrahim
• {{flagicon|KSA}} Nawaf Al Abed
• {{flagicon|KSA}} Naif Hazazi
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Cho Young-cheol
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Kim Young-gwon
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Nam Tae-hee
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Odil Ahmedov
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Igor Sergeev
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Vokhid Shodiev

{{div col end}}

;1 own goal

• {{flagicon|BHR}} Mohamed Husain (against United Arab Emirates)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Gao Lin (against North Korea)

;4 assists

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Massimo Luongo
• {{flagicon|UAE}} Omar Abdulrahman

{{div col end}}

;3 assists

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|BHN}} Faouzi Aaish
• {{flagicon|IRN}} Andranik Teymourian

{{div col end}}

;2 assists

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Ivan Franjic
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Alaa Abdul-Zahra
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Shinji Kagawa
• {{flagicon|JOR}} Abdallah Deeb
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Cha Du-ri
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Kim Jin-su
• {{flagicon|UAE}} Amer Abdulrahman

{{div col end}}

;1 assist

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Jason Davidson
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Matthew Leckie
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Trent Sainsbury
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Tomi Juric
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Gao Lin
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Zheng Zhi
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Jiang Zhipeng
• {{flagicon|IRN}} Ashkan Dejagah
• {{flagicon|IRN}} Vouria Ghafouri
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Ali Adnan
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Dhurgham Ismail
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Amjad Kalaf
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Waleed Salem
• {{flagicon|IRQ}} Ahmed Yasin
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Keisuke Honda
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Takashi Inui
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Yoshinori Muto
• {{flagicon|JOR}} Hamza Al-Dardour
• {{flagicon|JOR}} Saeed Murjan
• {{flagicon|JOR}} Oday Zahran
• {{flagicon|KUW}} Abdulaziz Al Misha'an
• {{flagicon|OMA}} Mohammed Al-Siyabi
• {{flagicon|KSA}} Nawaf Al Abed
• {{flagicon|KSA}} Abdullah Al-Zori
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Ki Sung-yueng
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Lee Jung-hyup
• {{flagicon|KOR}} Lee Keun-ho
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Server Djeparov
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Jasur Hasanov
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Timur Kapadze
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Shavkat Mullajanov

{{div col end}}

In the final tournament, a player was suspended for the subsequent match in the competition for either getting red card or accumulating two yellow cards in two different matches. The match review panel has the ability to increase the automatic one match ban for a red card (e.g. for violent conduct). Single yellow card cautions were erased at the conclusion of the quarter-finals, and were not carried over to the semi-finals (so that a player could only be suspended for the final by getting a red card in the semi-final). The following players were or are suspended during the final tournament – for one or more games – as a result of red cards or yellow card accumulations:

;Most Valuable Player

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Massimo Luongo

;Top Goalscorer

• {{flagicon|UAE}} Ali Mabkhout

;Best Goalkeeper

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Mathew Ryan

;Fair Play Award

• {{fb|AUS}}

;Team of the tournament

Four players from both the winning Australian team and the runner-up Korean team were selected in the team of the tournament by the organization committee, while the other players included were from a team which progressed to the semi-finals.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/afcasiancup/status/561811330525433856|title=AC2015 DREAM TEAM|date=1 February 2015|publisher=AFC Asian Cup official twitter|access-date=8 July 2015}}{{cite web|title=2015 Asian Cup Dream Team highlighted by Koreans, Australians|date=2 February 2015|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2g7yu0|publisher=dailymotion.com|access-date=9 February 2015}}

{{football squad on pitch|align=right

| GK = Ryan

| RB = Cha D.R.

| RCB = Sainsbury

| LCB = Kwak T.H.

| LB = Ismail

| RM = Ki S.Y.

| CM = Abdulrahman

| LM = Luongo

| RF = Cahill

| LF = Son H.M.

| CF = Mabkhout

| caption =

}}

{{Fb cl3 header navbar|p=yes|group=yes|no-extras=yes|fs=95}}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=1 |t={{fb|AUS}} |gr=A |no-extras=yes |bc=gold

|w=5 |d=0 |l=1 |gf=14 |ga=3 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=2 |t={{fb|KOR}} |gr=A |no-extras=yes |bc=silver

|w=5 |d=0 |l=1 |gf=8 |ga=2 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=3 |t={{fb|UAE}} |gr=C |no-extras=yes |bc=#c96

|w=3 |d=1 |l=2 |gf=10 |ga=8 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=4 |t={{fb|IRQ}} |gr=D |no-extras=yes |bc=

|w=2 |d=1 |l=3 |gf=8 |ga=9 }}

|-

| colspan="11"| Eliminated in the quarter-finals

|-

{{Fb cl3 team|p=5 |t={{fb|IRN}} |gr=C |no-extras=yes

|w=3 |d=1 |l=0 |gf=7 |ga=3 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=6 |t={{fb|JPN}} |gr=D |no-extras=yes

|w=3 |d=1 |l=0 |gf=8 |ga=1 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=7 |t={{fb|CHN}} |gr=B |no-extras=yes

|w=3 |d=0 |l=1 |gf=5 |ga=4 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=8 |t={{fb|UZB}} |gr=B |no-extras=yes

|w=2 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=5 |ga=5 }}

|-

| colspan="11"| Eliminated in group stage

|-

{{Fb cl3 team|p=9 |t={{fb|JOR}} |gr=D |no-extras=yes

|w=1 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=5 |ga=4 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=10 |t={{fb|KSA}} |gr=B |no-extras=yes

|w=1 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=5 |ga=5 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=11 |t={{fb|BHR}} |gr=C |no-extras=yes

|w=1 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=3 |ga=5 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=12 |t={{fb|OMA}} |gr=A |no-extras=yes

|w=1 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=1 |ga=5 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=13 |t={{fb|QAT}} |gr=C |no-extras=yes

|w=0 |d=0 |l=3 |gf=2 |ga=7 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=14 |t={{fb|PRK}} |gr=B |no-extras=yes

|w=0 |d=0 |l=3 |gf=2 |ga=7 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=15 |t={{fb|KUW}} |gr=A |no-extras=yes

|w=0 |d=0 |l=3 |gf=1 |ga=6 }}

{{Fb cl3 team|p=16 |t={{fb|PLE}} |gr=D |no-extras=yes

|w=0 |d=0 |l=3 |gf=1 |ga=11 }}

|}

Source: [https://assets.the-afc.com/migration/a/f/afc-asian-cup-australia-2015-technical-report-26582 AFC Technical Report]

The 2015 Asian Cup achieved 26 consecutive matches without a draw, the most of any major football tournament, breaking the previous record of 18 set at the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay.{{cite news|url= http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/01/19/asian-cup-smashes-football-tournament-world-record |title= Asian Cup smashes football tournament world record |work= The World Game |date= 19 January 2015 |access-date= 19 January 2015}}

Ali Mabkhout broke the record for fastest goal at the AFC Asian Cup, scoring after just 14 seconds for the United Arab Emirates against Bahrain in their group stage match.{{cite news|title=UAE records second straight Asian Cup win with 2-1 defeat of Bahrain|newspaper=ABC News|date=15 January 2015|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-15/bahrain-uae/6019898|publisher=abc.net.au|access-date=25 January 2015}}

Palestine made its first ever appearance in the Asian Cup, and Jaka Ihbeisheh scored the nation's first ever goal in an Asian Cup in their second group match against Jordan. This goal also marked for the first time a Slovene scored in an Asian Cup game, as Jaka's being Slovenian descent.

With the title, Australia became the first men's national team to win titles in two different confederations, having won the OFC Nations Cup four times before moving to the AFC.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/31/socceroos-lift-asian-cup-after-dramatic-extra-time-win-over-south-korea|title=Socceroos lift Asian Cup after dramatic extra-time win over South Korea|work=The Guardian|date=31 January 2015}} Tim Cahill and Mark Bresciano became the first men's players to win two different confederation titles, having previously won the 2004 OFC Nations Cup.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/561539057692737536|title=FIFA.com @ Twitter|publisher=Twitter|date=31 January 2015}} By winning the Asian Cup, Australia also became the first country to simultaneously hold the AFC Asian Cup and AFC Champions League titles, following the triumph of Western Sydney Wanderers in the 2014 AFC Champions League.{{cite web|url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8952857|title=Australia down South Korea, win Asian Cup|work=wwos|access-date=1 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203033142/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8952857|archive-date=3 February 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/01/31/22/45/socceroos-crowned-kings-of-asia|title=Socceroos crowned kings of Asia in extra-time final thriller|work=news|date=31 January 2015 }}

File:AFC Asian Cup at Fed Square.jpg]]

The Trophy Tour commenced in China in September 2014, it then travelled to Qatar, United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Japan before arriving in Australia in December, where the trophy made it to all five 2015 AFC Asian Cup host cities.{{cite web |title=AFC Asian Cup trophy set for host city tour |date=13 November 2014 |url=http://www.socceroos.com.au/article/afc-asian-cup-trophy-set-for-host-city-tour/1xpipq6hk5hmp1wi0ys8w8faf9 |publisher=socceroos.com.au |access-date=13 November 2014}}

File:AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.jpg

The opening ceremony of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup took place on 9 January, at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, before the opening match of the tournament between hosts Australia and Kuwait.{{cite web |title=Victoria to open Australia's biggest ever international football event |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/9488-victoria-to-open-australia-s-biggest-ever-international-football-event.html |publisher=premier.vic.gov.au |access-date=23 November 2014 |archive-date=23 November 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141123100212/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/9488-victoria-to-open-australia-s-biggest-ever-international-football-event.html |url-status=dead }} The ceremony was produced by a consortium of sport event specialists Twenty3 Sports + Entertainment and creative technology firm Spinifex Group. The consortium has worked on the main international sporting events including the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.{{cite web |title=Consortium appointed to create Asian Cup opening ceremony |date=July 2014 |url=http://mumbrella.com.au/consortium-appointed-create-asian-cup-opening-ceremony-235618 |publisher=mumbrella.com.au |access-date=23 November 2014}} The opening ceremony for the Asian Cup directed by Peter Nielson with Musical Direction by Chong Lim, and featured performances by Australian DJ, singer and dancer Havana Brown, Australian indie pop band Sheppard, Indigenous Australian musician Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, and Australian hip-hop artists L-Fresh The Lion, Joelistics and Mistress of Ceremony.{{cite web |title=Sukhdeep Singh L- Fresh The Lion will perform at the Opening Ceremony The 2015 AFC Asian Cup |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/highlight/page/id/382079/t/Sukhdeep-Singh-L-Fresh-The-Lion-will-perform-at-the-Opening-Ceremony-The-2015-AFC-Asian-Cup/in/english |publisher=sbs.com.au |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103042450/http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/highlight/page/id/382079/t/Sukhdeep-Singh-L-Fresh-The-Lion-will-perform-at-the-Opening-Ceremony-The-2015-AFC-Asian-Cup/in/english |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Asian Cup opening ceremony |url=http://l-fresh.com/events/asia-cup/ |publisher=l-fresh.com |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150103043949/http://l-fresh.com/events/asia-cup/ |archive-date=3 January 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }} It also featured 80 children from local junior football clubs and a performing cast of more than 120 Australian dancers, acrobats, Indigenous performers and football freestylers.{{cite web |title=Asian Cup to kick-start Melbourne sporting feast |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/asian-cup-to-kick-start-melbourne-sporting-feast/story-fni0fit3-1227163742459 |publisher=heraldsun.com.au |access-date=23 December 2014}}

File:Nutmeg the Mascot.JPG]]

The official logo for the tournament was unveiled at a special event in Melbourne, in October 2012. Designed by Sydney agency, WiteKite.{{cite web |title=2015 AFC Asian Cup logo |url=http://www.designstation.com.au/blog/2015-afc-asian-cup-logo/ |publisher=designstation.com.au |access-date=23 November 2014}} The logo depicts a stylised player, kicking a football from the east coast of Australia across country towards Asia. The ball also represents the Australian summer sun arcing west from Australia to Asia. The four golden bands forming the map of Australia represent the four host cities. The design is embraced by the AFC holding device.{{cite web |title=AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 Preliminary Draw Conducted and Competition Logo Launched |url=http://www.footballnsw.com.au/index.php?id=149&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2012&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=10&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=7143&cHash=8110ebfef450a3281fe22f4cb3875bec |publisher=footballnsw.com.au |access-date=23 November 2014}}

The mascot of the tournament, "Nutmeg the Wombat", was unveiled at the Wild Life Sydney Zoo, on 11 November 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/nutmeg/1gn9ryfcr8mpu1m418ywqn6khb |title=Nutmeg the Wombat named Cup mascot |publisher=AFC Asian Cup |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=18 November 2014 |archive-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118033709/http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/nutmeg/1gn9ryfcr8mpu1m418ywqn6khb |url-status=dead }} The mascot, a wombat native to Australia, wore the colours of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, red and yellow. It was named after the football trick where a player dribbles the ball through an opponent's legs, known as a nutmeg.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

Theme song was Warrior by Havana Brown.{{Cite web |last=Ômega Hitz |date=9 January 2015 |title=Kids Football Kit |url=https://kidsfootballkit.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319015849/http://omegahitz.com.br/havana-brown-faz-performance-de-warrior-na-australia/ |archive-date=19 March 2015 |access-date=11 June 2018 |website=Havana Brown faz performance de "Warrior" na Austrália |language=pt}}

AFC announced ten official sponsors and six official supporters as shown below.{{cite web|title=About Asian Cup|url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/about/en/|publisher=afcasiancup.com|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120062637/http://www.afcasiancup.com/about/en|url-status=dead}}

The tournament was broadcast live by around 80 TV channels covering the whole world.{{cite web |title=Official broadcasters |url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/about/en/272h8qys4k7f1xd17dphsiujc |publisher=afcasiancup.com |access-date=1 December 2014 |archive-date=5 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205180634/http://www.afcasiancup.com/about/en/272h8qys4k7f1xd17dphsiujc |url-status=dead }} 800 million people were expected to watch matches, with the tournament reaching a potential TV audience of more than 2.5 billion people.{{cite web |title=Sydney and Newcastle to host 10 countries in AFC Asian Cup pool matches |url=http://www.destinationnsw.com.au/news-and-media/media-releases/sydney-and-newcastle-to-host-10-countries-in-afc-asian-cup-pool-matches |publisher=destinationnsw.com.au |access-date=8 December 2014}} Below is the list of confirmed broadcasting right holders for 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

Due to a hostage taking in Sydney in December 2014, security was increased for all team bases and stadiums, in addition to police escorts for all official activities.{{cite news|title=Asian Cup: Hosts Australia asked to strengthen security|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30491795|access-date=18 January 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=16 December 2014}}

During a doping test, Jordan's Ahmad Hayel was required to drink so much water to produce a urine sample, that he developed hypothermia and was rendered unconscious.{{cite news|title=Asian Cup: Doping test 'makes Jordan player sick'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30810610|access-date=14 January 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=14 January 2015}} Jordan coach Ray Wilkins was infuriated at Asian Cup officials over the procedure.{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/jordan-coach-ray-wilkins-hopping-mad-over-doping-fiasco_1530716.html|title=Jordan coach Ray Wilkins hopping mad over doping fiasco|work=Zee News}}

On 24 January 2015, following the country's elimination from the tournament, it was revealed that the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) had lodged a formal complaint to FIFA against their quarter-final opponent. The complaint was regarding the eligibility of Iraqi midfielder Alaa Abdul-Zahra, with the FFIRI arguing that the player should not have been allowed to play due to him submitting a positive doping test while playing for an Iranian club side in 2014. According to documents seen by Agence France-Presse, the 27-year-old tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexanamine, in results that were verified by a WADA-approved laboratory in Cologne.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/iran-protest-over-ineligible-iraq-football-player-023334970--sow.html|title=Iran's protest over Iraqi player rejected|date=25 January 2015|work=Yahoo Sports|access-date=14 January 2017|archive-date=21 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721172652/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/iran-protest-over-ineligible-iraq-football-player-023334970--sow.html|url-status=dead}} In an email exchange dated September 2014, FIFA promised to take action, but there is no record of a suspension for Abdul-Zahra. The Iranian national team remained in Australia whilst awaiting a response from FIFA and a final decision by the AFC disciplinary committee.{{cite web|title=Iraq's quarter-final win thrown into question after Iran claims ineligible player|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/01/24/iraqs-quarter-final-win-thrown-question-after-iran-claims-ineligible-player|publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au|access-date=25 January 2015}} On 25 January, the AFC disciplinary committee decided that the FFIRI protest was unfounded, and, therefore, dismissed the case, with Iraq, cleared to take its place in their semi-final match against South Korea the following day.{{cite news|title=Asian Cup: Iran appeal against Iraq over ineligible player dismissed after quarter-final loss|newspaper=ABC News |date=25 January 2015 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-25/iran-asian-cup-protest-against-iraq-dismissed/6045366|publisher=abc.net.au|access-date=25 January 2015}}

On 29 January 2015, after the defeat of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, West Asian Football Federation members reportedly sought to remove Australia from the AFC primarily due to "Australia benefiting hugely from Asian involvement without giving much in return", the resentment grew in the aftermath of Australia's conquest of the tournament.{{cite web| url = https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/angry-gulf-nations-leading-charge-to-kick-australia-out-of-asian-football-confederation-20150129-131e5g.html| title = Angry Gulf nations leading charge to kick Australia out of Asian Football Confederation| date = 29 January 2015}}

{{notes}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.afcasiancup.com/|name=AFC Asian Cup official website}} {{in lang|en}}
• [http://www.the-afc.com/competition/afc-asian-cup AFC Asian Cup on The-AFC.com]

{{2015 AFC Asian Cup}}

{{2015 AFC Asian Cup finalists}}

{{2015 AFC Asian Cup stadiums}}

{{AFC Asian Cup}}

{{2015 in Asian football (AFC)}}

{{2017 FIFA Confederations Cup}}

{{2015 in Japanese football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:AFC Asian Cup 2015}}

2015

Asian Cup

Category:2014–15 in Australian men's soccer

Category:International association football competitions hosted by Australia

Category:January 2015 sports events in Australia