2023 WAFF U-23 Championship

{{Infobox international football competition

| tourney_name = WAFF U-23 Championship

| year = 2023

| yearr =

| other_titles = {{lang|ar|بطولة غرب آسيا لكرة القدم تحت 23 عاما}}

| image =

| size =

| alt =

| caption = The Al-Madina Stadium in Al-Habibiya, Baghdad will host the matches

| city = Baghdad and Karbala

| country = Iraq

| dates = 12–20 June

| num_teams = 9

| confederations = 1

| sub-confederations = 2

| venues = 2

| cities = 2

| champion_other = {{fbu|23|IRQ}}

| count = 1

| second_other = {{fbu|23|IRI}}

| third_other =

| fourth_other =

| matches = 12

| goals = 27

| attendance =

| top_scorer = {{flagicon|Iraq}} Hussein Abdullah
(3 goals)

| player = {{flagicon|Iraq}} Muntadher Mohammed

| goalkeeper = {{flagicon|Iraq}} Kumel Al-Rekabe

| fair_play =

| prevseason = 2022

| nextseason = 2024

| updated =

}}

The 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship was the fourth edition of the WAFF U-23 Championship, the international age-restricted football championship organized by the West Asian Football Federation for the men's under-23 national teams of West Asia. Nine teams competed in the tournament, with one team being invited.{{cite web |title=إيران تشارك في بطولة غرب آسيا تحت 23 عاماً بالعراق |url=https://earthiq.news/archives/223707}}

Saudi Arabia, the defending champions, did not take part in the tournament. Iraq won their first title after defeating Iran 5–4 on penalties (1–1 after extra time) in the final.{{cite web |title="أسود الرافدين" يفرض تألقه ويحقق أول ألقابه في بطولة تحت ٢٣ عاماً |date=21 June 2023 |url=https://the-waff.com/archives/9816}}

Teams

Nine teams took part in the competition.{{cite web |title=قرعة النسخة الرابعة من بطولة تحت ٢٣ عاماً تسحب.. الإثنين |date=28 May 2023 |url=https://the-waff.com/archives/9679}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! Team

! data-sort-type="number"|Appearance

! Previous best performance

{{fbu|23|IRN}}2nd{{sort|01|Winners}} (2015)
{{fbu|23|IRQ}}2nd{{sort|05|Semi-finals}} (2021)
{{fbu|23|JOR}}3rd{{sort|01|Winners}} (2021)
{{fbu|23|LBN}}3rd{{sort|07|Group stage}} (2021, 2022)
{{fbu|23|OMA}}4th{{sort|04|Fourth place}} (2022)
{{fbu|23|PLE}}3rd{{sort|07|Group stage}} (2015, 2021)
{{fbu|23|SYR|1980}}4th{{sort|02|Runners-up}} (2015)
{{fbu|23|UAE}}3rd{{sort|07|Group stage}} (2015, 2021)
{{fbu|23|YEM}}3rd{{sort|04|Fourth place}} (2015)

=Draw=

The draw for the group stage took place on Thursday 25 May 2023 in Muscat, Oman at 15:00 UTC+3.{{cite web |title=قرعة بطولة تحت ٢٣ عاماً تكشف معالم المجموعات الثلاث |date=29 May 2023 |url=https://the-waff.com/archives/9684}}

valign="top"

|

{| class="wikitable"

+ Group A
{{Tooltip|Pos|Position}} || width="175" |Team
align="center" | A1{{fbu|23|IRQ}}
align="center" | A2{{fbu|23|UAE}}
align="center" | A3{{fbu|23|JOR}}

|

|

|

class="wikitable"
+ Group B
{{Tooltip|Pos|Position}} || width="175" |Team
align="center" | B1{{fbu|23|PLE}}
align="center" | B2{{fbu|23|IRN}}
align="center" | B3{{fbu|23|SYR|1980}}

|

|

|

class="wikitable"
+ Group C
{{Tooltip|Pos|Position}} || width="175" |Team
align="center" | C1{{fbu|23|LBN}}
align="center" | C2{{fbu|23|YEM}}
align="center" | C3{{fbu|23|OMN}}

|}

= Squads =

{{Main|2023 WAFF U-23 Championship squads}}

Each team had to register a squad of 25 players, three of whom must be goalkeepers.

Match officials

The following referees and assistant referees were appointed for the tournament.

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

Referees

  • {{flagicon|BHR}} Husain Al Showaikh (Bahrain)
  • {{flagicon|IRQ}} Ahmed Kadhim Gatea (Iraq)
  • {{flagicon|JOR}} Ahmad Yacoub Ibrahim (Jordan)
  • {{flagicon|LBN}} Ali Al Ashkar (Lebanon)
  • {{flagicon|OMN}} Yahya Al Balushi (Oman)
  • {{flagicon|PLE}} Baraa Aisha (Palestine)
  • {{flagicon|KSA}} Faisal Al-Blwi (Saudi Arabia)
  • {{flagicon|SYR|1980}} Feras Taweel (Syria)
  • {{flagicon|UAE}} Sultan Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)
  • {{flagicon|YEM}} Feras Yousef (Yemen)

{{Col-2}}

Assistant Referees

  • {{flagicon|BHR}} Sayed Jalal Mahfoodh (Bahrain)
  • {{flagicon|IRQ}} Karrar Al Uaibi (Iraq)
  • {{flagicon|JOR}} Qais Khamees (Jordan)
  • {{flagicon|LBN}} Bilal Orfi (Lebanon)
  • {{flagicon|OMN}} Mohammed Al Ghazali (Oman)
  • {{flagicon|PLE}} Rafat Roma (Palestine)
  • {{flagicon|KSA}} Saad Al-Subaie (Saudi Arabia)
  • {{flagicon|SYR|1980}} Mohamed Al Sayed Ali (Syria)
  • {{flagicon|UAE}} Yasser Al Murshidi (United Arab Emirates)
  • {{flagicon|YEM}} Ahmed Mushwer (Yemen)

{{Col-end}}

Venues

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
colspan=1|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Baghdad

! colspan=1|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Karbala

Al-Madina Stadium

| Karbala Stadium

Capacity: 30,000

| Capacity: 30,000

|
rowspan="4" colspan=2 |{{location map+|Iraq|float=center|width=250|caption=|places={{Location map~|Iraq|lat=33.1855|long=44.2158|label=Baghdad}}{{Location map~|Iraq|lat=32.3700|long=44.0200|label=Karbala}}}}

Group stage

=Group A=

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=Group A

|name_IRQ={{fbu|23|IRQ}}

|name_UAE={{fbu|23|UAE}}

|name_JOR={{fbu|23|JOR}}

|update=complete

|source=[https://globalsportsarchive.com/competition/soccer/alwatani-earthlink-waff-u23-championship-2023-iraq/group-stage/80473/ GSA]

|win_IRQ=1 |draw_IRQ=1 |loss_IRQ=0 |gf_IRQ=5 |ga_IRQ=2 |status_IRQ=H

|win_UAE=0 |draw_UAE=0 |loss_UAE=2 |gf_UAE=1 |ga_UAE=5

|win_JOR=1 |draw_JOR=1 |loss_JOR=0 |gf_JOR=4 |ga_JOR=3

|team_order=IRQ, JOR, UAE

|class_rules=Qualification tiebreakers

|res_col_header=Q

|result1=FT |result2=FT

|col_FT=green1 |text_FT=Knockout stage

}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|12|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|21:45|3}}

|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|JOR}}

|score = 2–2

|team2 = {{fbu|23|IRQ}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad

|attendance = 7,000

|referee = Faisal Al-Blwi (Saudi Arabia)

|report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-12/jordan-u23-vs-iraq-u23/3007245/

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|14|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|17:45|3}}

|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|UAE}}

|score = 1–2

|team2 = {{fbu|23|JOR}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad

|attendance = 500

|referee = Ali Al Ashkar (Lebanon)

|report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-14/united-arab-emirates-u23-vs-jordan-u23/3007246/

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|16|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|21:45|3}}

|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|IRQ}}

|score = 3–0

|team2 = {{fbu|23|UAE}}

|goals1 =

|stadium = Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad

|attendance = 25,931

|referee = Yahya Al Balushi (Oman)

|report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-16/iraq-u23-vs-united-arab-emirates-u23/3007247/

}}

=Group B=

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=Group B

|name_IRN={{fbu|23|IRN}}

|name_PLE={{fbu|23|PLE}}

|name_SYR={{fbu|23|SYR|1980}}

|update=14 June 2023

|source=[https://globalsportsarchive.com/competition/soccer/alwatani-earthlink-waff-u23-championship-2023-iraq/group-stage/80473/ GSA]

|win_PLE=1 |draw_PLE=1 |loss_PLE=0 |gf_PLE=2 |ga_PLE=1

|win_IRN=1 |draw_IRN=1 |loss_IRN=0 |gf_IRN=4 |ga_IRN=2

|win_SYR=0 |draw_SYR=0 |loss_SYR=2 |gf_SYR=1 |ga_SYR=4

|team_order=IRN, PLE, SYR

|class_rules=Qualification tiebreakers

|res_col_header=Q

|result1=FT |result2=2nd

|col_FT=green1 |text_FT=Knockout stage

}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|12|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|19:45|3}}

|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|SYR|1980}}

|score = 0–1

|team2 = {{fbu|23|PLE}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Karbala Stadium, Karbala

|attendance =

|referee = Ahmad Yacoub Ibrahim (Jordan)

|report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-12/syria-u23-vs-palestine-u23/3007248/

}}

----

{{Football box

| date = {{Start date|2023|6|14|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|19:45|3}}

| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|IRN}}

| score = 3–1

| team2 = {{fbu|23|SYR|1980}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Karbala Stadium, Karbala

| attendance =

| referee = Ahmed Kadhim Gatea (Iraq)

| report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-14/ir-iran-u23-vs-syria-u23/3007249/

}}

----

{{Football box

| date = {{Start date|2023|6|16|df=y}}

| time = {{UTZ|19:45|3}}

| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|PLE}}

| score = 1–1

| team2 = {{fbu|23|IRN}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| stadium = Karbala Stadium, Karbala

| attendance = 1,000

| referee = Feras Yousef (Yemen)

| report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-16/palestine-u23-vs-ir-iran-u23/3007250/

}}

=Group C=

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=Group C

|name_LBN={{fbu|23|LBN}}

|name_YEM={{fbu|23|YEM}}

|name_OMN={{fbu|23|OMN}}

|update=complete

|source=[https://globalsportsarchive.com/competition/soccer/alwatani-earthlink-waff-u23-championship-2023-iraq/group-stage/80473/ GSA]

|win_LBN=0 |draw_LBN=0 |loss_LBN=2 |gf_LBN=1 |ga_LBN=3

|win_YEM=1 |draw_YEM=0 |loss_YEM=1 |gf_YEM=2 |ga_YEM=4

|win_OMN=2 |draw_OMN=0 |loss_OMN=0 |gf_OMN=4 |ga_OMN=0

|team_order=OMN, YEM, LBN

|class_rules=Qualification tiebreakers

|res_col_header=Q

|result1=FT

|col_FT=green1 |text_FT=Knockout stage

}}

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|12|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|17:45|3}}

|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|OMN}}

|score = 1–0

|team2 = {{fbu|23|LBN}}

|goals1 = Al-Abdulsalam {{goal|42|pen.}}

|stadium = Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad

|attendance = 1,500

|referee = Sultan Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)

|report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-12/oman-u23-vs-lebanon-u23/3007251/

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|14|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|21:45|3}}

|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|YEM}}

|score = 0–3

|team2 = {{fbu|23|OMN}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad

|attendance = 500

|referee = Feras Taweel (Syria)

|report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-14/yemen-u23-vs-oman-u23/3007252/

}}

----

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2023|6|16|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|17:45|3}}

|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|LBN}}

|score = 1–2

|team2 = {{fbu|23|YEM}}

|goals1 = Sadek {{goal|53}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad

|attendance = 2,000

|referee = Baraa Aisha (Palestine)

|report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-16/lebanon-u23-vs-yemen-u23/3007253/

}}

=Ranking of Runners-ups=

The best-placed runner-up will qualify for the knockout stage.

{{#invoke:Sports table|main|style=WDL

|section=Runners-up

|show_groups=n

|name_JOR={{fbu|23|JOR}}

|name_PLE={{fbu|23|PLE}}

|name_YEM={{fbu|23|YEM}}

|update=future |start_date=12 June 2023

|win_PLE=1 |draw_PLE=1 |loss_PLE=0 |gf_PLE=2 |ga_PLE=1

|win_YEM=1 |draw_YEM=0 |loss_YEM=1 |gf_YEM=2 |ga_YEM=4

|win_JOR=1 |draw_JOR=1 |loss_JOR=0 |gf_JOR=4 |ga_JOR=3

|team_order=JOR, PLE, YEM

|class_rules=Qualification tiebreakers

|res_col_header=Q

|result1=FT

|col_FT=green1 |text_FT=Knockout stage

}}

Knockout stage

{{#invoke:RoundN|N4

|3rdplace=no|bold_winner=high|widescore=yes

|18 June – Baghdad |{{fbu|23|IRN}}| 0 (4)|{{fbu|23|JOR}} | 0 (3)|18 June – Baghdad |{{fbu|23|IRQ}}|1 |{{fbu|23|OMA}} |0

|20 June – Baghdad |{{fbu|23|IRN}}|1 (4) | {{fbu|23|IRQ}} | 1 (5)

}}

=Semi-finals=

{{football box

| date = 18 June 2023

| time = {{UTZ|18:00|3}}

| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|IRN}}

| score = 0–0

| penaltyscore = 4–3

| report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-18/ir-iran-u23-vs-jordan-u23/3007254/

| team2 = {{fbu|23|JOR}}

| goals1 =

| goals2 =

| penalties1 = Y. Salmani {{pengoal}}
Hazbavi {{penmiss}}
A. Bavieh {{pengoal}}
M. Ghorbani {{pengoal}}
Hashemnejad {{pengoal}}

| penalties2 = {{pengoal}} Al-Diabat
{{penmiss}} Abualnadi
{{penmiss}} Jamous
{{pengoal}}Al-Shanaineh
{{pengoal}} Abu Taha

| stadium = Al-Madina Stadium

| location = Baghdad

| attendance = 8,000

| referee = Husain Al Showaikh (Bahrain)

}}

----

{{football box

|date =18 June 2023

|time = {{UTZ|21:00|3}}

|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|IRQ}}

|score = 1–0

|report= https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-18/iraq-u23-vs-oman-u23/3007255/

|team2 = {{fbu|23|OMN}}

|goals1 = Al-Rawahi {{goal|52|o.g.}}

|goals2 =

|penalties1=

|penalties2=

|stadium = Al-Madina Stadium

|location = Baghdad

|attendance = 29,566

|referee = Faisal Al-Blwi (Saudi Arabia)

}}

=Final=

{{football box

| date = 20 June 2023

| time = {{UTZ|20:00|3}}

| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|IRN}}

| score = 1–1

| penaltyscore = 4–5

| report = https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2023-06-20/ir-iran-u23-vs-iraq-u23/3007257/

| team2 = {{fbu|23|IRQ}}

| goals1 = Goudarzi {{goal|31}}

| goals2 = Abdullah {{goal|45+3}}

| penalties1 = Y. Salmani {{pengoal}}
Fallah {{penmiss}}
Irankhah {{pengoal}}
M. Ghorbani {{pengoal}}
Hashemnejad {{pengoal}}

| penalties2 = {{pengoal}} K. Mohammed
{{pengoal}} Tahseen
{{pengoal}} Abdullah
{{pengoal}} M. Mohammed
{{pengoal}} Maknzi

| stadium = Al-Madina Stadium

| location = Baghdad

| attendance = 32,000

| referee = Sultan Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)

}}

==Winners==

{{winners|fbu|23|2023 WAFF U-23 Championship champion|IRQ|First}}

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:{{cite web |title= هيمنة عراقية على جوائز بطولة غرب آسيا|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1249201 |website=kooora.com| date=20 June 2023 }}

=Awards=

;Player of the Tournament

{{flagicon|Iraq}} Muntadher Mohammed

;Golden Boot

{{flagicon|Iraq}} Hussein Abdullah (3 goals)

;Golden Glove

{{flagicon|Iraq}} Kumel Al-Rekabe

Final standing

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
width=40|Rank

!width=180|Team

bgcolor=gold

|{{Gold1}}

|align=left|{{fbu|23|IRQ}}

bgcolor=silver

|{{Silver2}}

|align=left|{{fbu|23|IRI}}

bgcolor=CC9966

|{{Bronze3}}

|align=left|{{fbu|23|OMA}}

4

|align=left|{{fbu|23|JOR}}

5

|align=left|{{fbu|23|Palestine}}

6

|align=left|{{fbu|23|YEM}}

7

|align=left|{{fbu|23|Lebanon}}

8

|align=left|{{fbu|23|SYR|1980}}

9

|align=left|{{fbu|23|UAE}}

{{col-end}}

Goalscorers

{{Goalscorers

|goals=27|matches=12

|ongoing=no |updated=

|3 goal=

|2 goal=

|1 goal=

|1 own goal=

}}

Broadcasting rights

The following channels have been given broadcasting rights to broadcast the tournament.

class=wikitable

!Territory

!Rights holder(s)

Iraq

|Al Iraqiya

Alrabiaa Network Television

United Arab Emirates

|AD Sports

Dubai Sports

Jordan

|Jordan Sports TV

Yemen

|Al-Saeeda

References