2024 WAFF U-23 Championship
{{Infobox international football competition
| tourney_name = WAFF U-23 Championship
| year = 2024
| yearr =
| other_titles = {{lang|ar|بطولة غرب آسيا لكرة القدم تحت 23 عاما}}
| image =
| size =
| alt =
| caption =
| city =
| country = Saudi Arabia
| dates = 20–26 March
| num_teams = 8
| confederations = 2
| sub-confederations = 4
| venues = 2
| cities = 2
| champion_other = {{fbu|23|KOR}}
| count = 1
| second_other = {{fbu|23|AUS}}
| third_other = {{fbu|23|KSA}}
| fourth_other = {{fbu|23|EGY}}
| matches = 12
| goals = 29
| attendance =
| top_scorer = {{fbuicon|23|AUS}} Alou Kuol (3 goals)
| player =
| goalkeeper =
| fair_play =
| prevseason = 2023
| nextseason = 2025
| updated =
}}
The 2024 WAFF U-23 Championship was the fifth edition of the WAFF U-23 Championship, the international age-restricted football championship organized by the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) for the men's under-23 national teams of West Asia. Eight teams competed in the tournament, with four WAFF teams and four other invitees.{{cite web |title=The 5th Edition of the under-23 championship will host 4 teams from outside the region|url=https://the-waff.com/en/blog/2024/02/26/the-5th-edition-of-the-under-23-championship-will-host-4-teams-from-outside-the-region/|date=26 February 2024|publisher=WAFF}}
Iraq were the defending champions, but they were eliminated from the tournament at the group stages. South Korea won their first WAFF title, beating Australia 4–3 on penalties after a 2–2 draw.
Teams
Eight teams took part in the competition, with four from the WAFF and four other invitees. Iraq participated with its under-19 national team.{{cite web |title=الشباب بدلا عن الأولمبي في غرب آسيا|url=https://www.ina.iq/202987--.html|date=12 February 2024|publisher=Iraq News Agency}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Team ! data-sort-type="number"|Appearance ! Previous best performance | ||
| {{fbu|23|AUS}} (invitee) | 1st | {{sort|00|Debut}} |
| {{fbu|23|EGY}} (invitee) | 1st | {{sort|00|Debut}} |
| {{fbu|23|IRQ}} | 3rd | {{sort|01|Winners}} (2023) |
| {{fbu|23|JOR}} | 4th | {{sort|01|Winners}} (2021) |
| {{fbu|23|KSA}} | 4th | {{sort|01|Winners}} (2022) |
| {{fbu|23|KOR}} (invitee) | 1st | {{sort|00|Debut}} |
| {{fbu|23|THA}} (invitee) | 1st | {{sort|00|Debut}} |
| {{fbu|23|UAE}} | 4th | {{sort|07|Group stage}} (2015, 2021, 2023) |
=Draw=
The draw for the group stage took place on 3 March 2024 at the WAFF headquarters in Amman, Jordan. Teams from the same group of the upcoming 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup could not be drawn into the same group. Host Saudi Arabia were automatically placed in position A1.{{cite web|title=٨ منتخبات تترقب قرعة بطولة تحت ٢٣ عاماً الخامسة|trans-title=Drawing the draw for the fifth Under-23 Championship|url=https://the-waff.com/archives/11011|publisher=WAFF|access-date=8 March 2024|language=Arabic|date=4 March 2024}}
| valign="top"
| {| class="wikitable" | |
| + Group A | |
| {{Tooltip|Pos|Position}} || width="175" |Team | |
|---|---|
| align="center" | A1 | {{fbu|23|KSA}} (H) |
| align="center" | A2 | {{fbu|23|JOR}} |
|
|
| class="wikitable" | |
| + Group B | |
| {{Tooltip|Pos|Position}} || width="175" |Team | |
|---|---|
| align="center" | B1 | {{fbu|23|KOR}} |
| align="center" | B2 | {{fbu|23|THA}} |
|
|
| class="wikitable" | |
| + Group C | |
| {{Tooltip|Pos|Position}} || width="175" |Team | |
|---|---|
| align="center" | C1 | {{fbu|23|EGY}} |
| align="center" | C2 | {{fbu|23|UAE}} |
|
|
| class="wikitable" | |
| + Group D | |
| {{Tooltip|Pos|Position}} || width="175" |Team | |
|---|---|
| align="center" | D1 | {{fbu|23|AUS}} |
| align="center" | D2 | {{fbu|23|IRQ}} |
|}
= Squads =
{{Main|2024 WAFF U-23 Championship squads}}
Match officials
{{Empty section|date=March 2024}}
Venues
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| {{flagicon|KSA}} Hofuf
! {{flagicon|KSA}} Al-Mubarraz |
|---|
| Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium |
| Capacity: 19,550
| Capacity: 11,000 |
| rowspan="4" colspan=2|{{location map+|Saudi Arabia|float=center|width=250|caption=|places={{Location map~|Saudi Arabia|lat=25.383333|long=49.583333|label=Hofuf}}
{{location map~|Saudi Arabia|lat=25.383333|long=49.6|label=Al-Mubarraz|position=right}}}} |
Group stage
=Group A=
|section=Group A
|name_KSA={{fbu|23|KSA}}
|name_JOR={{fbu|23|JOR}}
|update=complete
|source=[https://the-waff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SM-POSTS--1789x2048.jpg WAFF]
|win_KSA=0 |draw_KSA=1 |loss_KSA=0 |gf_KSA=1 |ga_KSA=1 |status_KSA=H
|win_JOR=0 |draw_JOR=1 |loss_JOR=0 |gf_JOR=1 |ga_JOR=1
|hth_KSA=Saudi Arabia won 2–1 on penalty shootouts
|hth_JOR=KSA
|team_order=KSA, JOR
|class_rules=
|res_col_header=Q
|result1=FT
|col_FT=green1 |text_FT=Knockout stage
}}
{{Football box
|date = {{Start date|2024|3|20|df=y}}
|time = {{UTZ|23:00|3}}
|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|KSA}}
|score = 1–1
|team2 = {{fbu|23|JOR}}
|goals1 =
- Al-Faraj {{goal|52|pen.}}
|goals2 =
- Kalbouneh {{goal|16}}
|penaltyscore = 2–1
|penalties1 =
- S. Al-Zaid {{pengoal}}
- Al-Faraj {{penmiss}}
- A. Zaid {{penmiss}}
- Barnawi {{pengoal}}
|penalties2 =
- {{penmiss}} Abu Taha
- {{pengoal}} Al-Diabat
- {{penmiss}} Afaneh
- {{penmiss}} Abualnadi
- {{penmiss}} Bani Hani
|stadium = Al Fateh Stadium, Al Mubarraz
|attendance =
|referee =
|report =
}}
=Group B=
|section=Group B
|name_KOR={{fbu|23|KOR}}
|name_THA={{fbu|23|THA}}
|update=complete
|source=[https://the-waff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SM-POSTS--1789x2048.jpg WAFF]
|win_KOR=1 |draw_KOR=0 |loss_KOR=0 |gf_KOR=1 |ga_KOR=0
|win_THA=0 |draw_THA=0 |loss_THA=1 |gf_THA=0 |ga_THA=1
|team_order=KOR, THA
|class_rules=
|res_col_header=Q
|result1=FT
|col_FT=green1 |text_FT=Knockout stage
}}
{{Football box
|date = {{Start date|2024|3|20|df=y}}
|time = {{UTZ|20:00|3}}
|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|KOR}}
|score = 1–0
|team2 = {{fbu|23|THA}}
|goals1 =
- Cho Hyun-taek {{goal|45+2}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Al Fateh Stadium, Al Mubarraz
|attendance =
|referee =
|report =
}}
=Group C=
|section=Group C
|name_EGY={{fbu|23|EGY}}
|name_UAE={{fbu|23|UAE}}
|update=complete
|source=[https://the-waff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SM-POSTS--1789x2048.jpg WAFF]
|win_EGY=1 |draw_EGY=0 |loss_EGY=0 |gf_EGY=1 |ga_EGY=0
|win_UAE=0 |draw_UAE=0 |loss_UAE=1 |gf_UAE=0 |ga_UAE=1
|team_order=EGY, UAE
|class_rules=
|res_col_header=Q
|result1=FT
|col_FT=green1 |text_FT=Knockout stage
}}
{{Football box
|date = {{Start date|2024|3|20|df=y}}
|time = {{UTZ|23:00|3}}
|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|EGY}}
|score = 1–0
|team2 = {{fbu|23|UAE}}
|goals1 =
- Mazhar {{goal|82}}
|goals2 =
|stadium = Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, Hofuf
|attendance =
|referee = Abdullah Al-Shehri (Saudi Arabia)
|report =
}}
=Group D=
|section=Group D
|name_AUS={{fbu|23|AUS}}
|name_IRQ={{fbu|23|IRQ}}
|update=complete
|source=[https://the-waff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SM-POSTS--1789x2048.jpg WAFF]
|win_AUS=1 |draw_AUS=0 |loss_AUS=0 |gf_AUS=2 |ga_AUS=1
|win_IRQ=0 |draw_IRQ=0 |loss_IRQ=1 |gf_IRQ=1 |ga_IRQ=2
|team_order=AUS, IRQ
|class_rules=
|res_col_header=Q
|result1=FT
|col_FT=green1 |text_FT=Knockout stage
}}
{{Football box
|date = {{Start date|2024|3|20|df=y}}
|time = {{UTZ|20:00|3}}
|team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|AUS}}
|score = 2–1
|team2 = {{fbu|23|IRQ}}
|goals1 =
|goals2 =
- H. Jaafar {{goal|49}}
|stadium = Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, Hofuf
|attendance =
|referee =
|report = https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/subway-olyroos-win-opening-waff-u-23-championship-game-against-iraq
}}
Classification matches
=Classification semi-finals=
{{football box
| date = 23 March 2024
| time = {{UTZ|20:00|3}}
| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|IRQ}}
| score = 1–1
| penaltyscore = 4–3
| report =
| team2 = {{fbu|23|UAE}}
| goals1 =
- Sadiq {{goal|53}}
| goals2 =
- Al-Mansoori {{goal|34}}
| penalties1 =
- Haydar {{pengoal}}
- Mahdi {{pengoal}}
- Mokhalad {{pengoal}}
- K. Jaafar {{pengoal}}
- H. Jaafar {{penmiss}}
| penalties2 =
- {{pengoal}} Al-Maazmi
- {{pengoal}} Bader
- {{pengoal}} Al-Kass
- {{penmiss}} Ahmed
- {{penmiss}} Al-Balooshi
| stadium = Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, Hofuf
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
----
{{football box
| date = 23 March 2024
| time = {{UTZ|20:00|3}}
| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|THA}}
| score = 1–3
| penaltyscore =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbu|23|JOR}}
| goals1 =
- Thanadol {{goal|23}}
| goals2 =
| penalties1 =
| penalties2 =
| stadium = Al Fateh Stadium, Al Mubarraz
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
=Seventh place play-off=
{{football box
| date = 26 March 2024
| time = {{UTZ|20:00|3}}
| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|UAE}}
| score = 0–1
| penaltyscore =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbu|23|THA}}
| goals1 =
| goals2 =
- Chitsanupong {{goal|28}}
| penalties1 =
| penalties2 =
| stadium = Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, Hofuf
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
=Fifth place play-off=
{{football box
| date = 26 March 2024
| time = {{UTZ|23:00|3}}
| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|IRQ}}
| score = 1–3
| penaltyscore =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbu|23|JOR}}
| goals1 =
- Bani Hani {{goal|45+1|o.g.}}
| goals2 =
| penalties1 =
| penalties2 =
| stadium = Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, Hofuf
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
Knockout stage
{{#invoke:RoundN|N4
|3rdplace=yes|bold_winner=high|widescore=yes
|23 March – Hofuf|{{fbu|23|AUS}} {{pso}}|1 (2)|{{fbu|23|EGY}}|1 (1)
|23 March – Al Mubarraz|{{fbu|23|KOR}}|1|{{fbu|23|KSA}}|0
|26 March – Al Mubarraz|{{fbu|23|AUS}}|2 (3)|{{fbu|23|KOR}} {{pso}}|2 (4)
|26 March – Al Mubarraz|{{fbu|23|EGY}}|2 (2)|{{fbu|23|KSA}} {{pso}}|2 (4)
}}
=Semi-finals=
{{football box
| date = 23 March 2024
| time = {{UTZ|23:00|3}}
| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|AUS}}
| score = 1–1
| penaltyscore = 2–1
| report =
| team2 = {{fbu|23|EGY}}
| goals1 =
- G. Kuol {{goal|15|pen.}}
| goals2 =
- J. Hollman {{goal|22|o.g.}}
| penalties1 =
- Courtney-Perkins {{penmiss}}
- Okon-Engstler {{penmiss}}
- Girdwood-Reich {{pengoal}}
- Velupillay {{penmiss}}
- Brook {{pengoal}}
| penalties2 =
| stadium = Prince Abdullah bin Jalawi Stadium, Hofuf
| attendance =
| referee = Baraa Abu Aisha (Palestine)
}}
----
{{football box
| date = 23 March 2024
| time = {{UTZ|23:00|3}}
| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|KOR}}
| score = 1–0
| penaltyscore =
| report =
| team2 = {{fbu|23|KSA}}
| goals1 =
- Eom Ji-sung {{goal|41}}
| goals2 =
| penalties1 =
| penalties2 =
| stadium = Al Fateh Stadium, Al Mubarraz
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
=Third place play-off=
{{football box
| date = 26 March 2024
| time = {{UTZ|20:00|3}}
| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|EGY}}
| score = 2–2
| penaltyscore = 2–4
| report =
| team2 = {{fbu|23|KSA}}
| goals1 =
- Saber {{goal|5}}
- Abdel Maguid {{goal|90+2}}
| goals2 =
| penalties1 =
- Faisal {{penmiss}}
- Abdel Maguid {{pengoal}}
- Fayed {{pengoal}}
- El Maghrabi {{penmiss}}
| penalties2 =
- {{pengoal}} S. Al-Zaid
- {{pengoal}} Al-Julaydan
- {{pengoal}} Barnawi
- {{pengoal}} Al-Nemer
| stadium = Al Fateh Stadium, Al Mubarraz
| attendance =
| referee = Shiekh Ahmad Alaeddin (Lebanon)
}}
=Final=
{{football box
| date = 26 March 2024
| time = {{UTZ|23:00|3}}
| team1 = {{fbu-rt|23|AUS}}
| score = 2–2
| penaltyscore = 3–4
| report = https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/olyroos-lose-penalty-shootout-against-korea-republic-waff-championship-final-1
| team2 = {{fbu|23|KOR}}
| goals1 =
- A. Kuol {{goal|11||72}}
| goals2 =
- Lee Young-jun {{goal|26}}
- Kang Seong-jin {{goal|62}}
| penalties1 =
- A. Kuol {{pengoal}}
- Italiano {{pengoal}}
- D'Arrigo {{pengoal}}
- J. Hollman {{penmiss}}
- G. Kuol {{penmiss}}
| penalties2 =
- {{pengoal}} Lee Tae-seok
- {{pengoal}} Lee Kang-hee
- {{pengoal}} An Jae-jun
- {{pengoal}} Seo Myung-guan
| stadium = Al Fateh Stadium, Al Mubarraz
| attendance =
| referee =
}}
Goalscorers
{{Goalscorers
|goals=29 |matches=12
|3 goals=
- {{fbuicon|23|AUS}} Alou Kuol
|2 goals=
- {{fbuicon|23|JOR}} Mohannad Abu Taha
- {{fbuicon|23|JOR}} Aref Al-Haj
- {{fbuicon|23|JOR}} Baker Kalbouneh
|1 goal=
- {{fbuicon|23|AUS}} Louis D'Arrigo
- {{fbuicon|23|AUS}} Garang Kuol
- {{fbuicon|23|EGY}} Hossam Abdelmaguid
- {{fbuicon|23|EGY}} Bilal Mazhar
- {{fbuicon|23|EGY}} Mahmoud Saber
- {{fbuicon|23|IRQ}} Halgurd Jaafar
- {{fbuicon|23|IRQ}} Ali Sadiq
- {{fbuicon|23|JOR}} Reziq Bani Hani
- {{fbuicon|23|KSA}} Abdulaziz Al-Faraj
- {{fbuicon|23|KSA}} Meshari Al-Nemer
- {{fbuicon|23|KSA}} Marwan Al-Sahafi
- {{fbuicon|23|KOR}} Cho Hyun-taek
- {{fbuicon|23|KOR}} Eom Ji-sung
- {{fbuicon|23|KOR}} Kang Seong-jin
- {{fbuicon|23|KOR}} Lee Young-jun
- {{fbuicon|23|THA}} Chitsanupong Choti
- {{fbuicon|23|THA}} Thanadol Kaosaart
- {{fbuicon|23|UAE}} Mohammed Al-Mansoori
|1 own goal=
- {{fbuicon|23|AUS}} Jake Hollman (against Egypt)
- {{fbuicon|23|JOR}} Reziq Bani Hani (against Iraq)
}}
Ranking
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Rank | width=200|Team | M | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| bgcolor=gold
|1 | align=left|{{fbu|23|KOR}} | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 7 |
| bgcolor=silver
|2 | align=left|{{fbu|23|AUS}} | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 5 |
| bgcolor=#cc9966
|3 | align=left|{{fbu|23|KSA}} | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4| | ||
| 1 | 2 | ||||||||
| bgcolor=#9acdff
|4 | align=left|{{fbu|23|EGY}} | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 5 |
| 5 | align=left|{{fbu|23|JOR}} | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | +4 | 7 |
| 6 | align=left|{{fbu|23|IRQ}} | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6| | ||
| 3 | 1 | ||||||||
| 7 | align=left|{{fbu|23|THA}} | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4| | ||
| 2 | 3 | ||||||||
| 8 | align=left|{{fbu|23|UAE}} | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3| | ||
| 2 | 1 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{West Asian Football Federation Championship}}
Category:WAFF Championship tournaments