The 2028 AFC U23 Asian Cup, which will double as the Asian final qualifiers for soccer at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, is set to be held in Japan.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Thursday that Japan has been chosen to host the 2028 AFC U23 Asian Cup, beating out competition from Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Uzbekistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
This marks Japan’s first time hosting the U23 Asian Cup since the tournament’s inception in 2014.
The AFC cited Japan’s world-class infrastructure, minimal operational risks, geographical diversity, and the principle of rotating hosts as key factors in their decision.
The U23 Asian Cup is a biennial competition for Asian nations featuring players under 23, with tournaments held in Olympic years serving as final qualifiers.
In this 16-team tournament, the top two finishers will secure spots in the Olympic soccer tournament.
Specific details about the tournament, including dates and venues, will be announced at a later date.
South Korea has previously clinched one championship (2020) and one runner-up finish (2016) in the seven U23 Asian Cups held to date.
However, South Korea’s streak of 10 consecutive Olympic qualifications came to an end in the 2024 Qatar tournament, where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals after losing a penalty shootout to Vietnam, then coached by Shin Tae-yong.