After the Subway Socceroos discovered their Group Stage opponents for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, the team's group stage schedule has been locked in.
During the ceremony held at the Katara Opera House on Thursday evening (AEST), Australia was pooled in Group B at next year's tournament alongside Uzbekistan from Pot 2, Syria from Pot 3, and India from Pot 4.
Graham Arnold's side open their campaign against India at the same venue where they last played in Qatar - the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, host of Australia's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Round of 16 clash with Argentina.
The stadium also famously played host to the nation's two FIFA World Cup play-offs against United Arab Emirates and Peru in June 2022.
The Socceroos are also familiar with their other two venues, the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium and Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, having held training sessions at the pair of locations during previous camps in Qatar.
AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ - Australia's Group B Matches
Australia v India
Date: Saturday, 13 January 2024
Venue: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan
Kick-off: 2:30pm local, 10:30pm (AEDT)
Syria v Australia
Date: Thursday, 18 January 2024
Venue: Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Kick-off: 2:30pm local, 10:30pm (AEDT)
Australia v Uzbekistan
Date: Tuesday, 23 January 2024
Venue: Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha
Kick-off: 2:30pm local, 10:30pm (AEDT)
A PDF version of the Match Schedule can be found HERE.
Fans in Australia will be able to watch the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 thanks to Football Australia’s broadcast partner, Paramount ANZ.
The top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams from across the six groups will progress to the round of 16.
The Subway Socceroos will be seeking to continue their strong run of form in Doha during the AFC Asian Cup 2023, where the men’s national team reached the round of 16 at last year’s FIFA World Cup – defeated on that occasion 2-1 by the eventual World Champions, Argentina – and along the way became Australia’s most successful team at a men’s World Cup, winning two matches including two clean sheets.
Australia claimed their maiden AFC Asian Cup™ crown in 2015 on home soil when a goal in extra time of a thrilling Final helped lift the green and gold to victory over Korea Republic at a packed Stadium Australia in Sydney.
The 2023 tournament, being played in 2024 due the tournament being postponed because of challenges created by the COVID pandemic, will mark Australia's fifth participation at the AFC Asian Cup Finals (2007, 2011, 2015, 2019).