The 2007 Asian Cup broke the mold for continental football hosting

History · Published 6 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2007, the AFC Asian Cup shattered a long-standing tradition by co-hosting the tournament across four different nations. This experimental format marked the first time a major continental competition involved more than two host countries, a feat that would remain unique in football history until the arrival of UEFA Euro 2020.

The tournament, held from 7 to 29 July 2007, was a landmark edition for the Asian Football Confederation. For the first time, the competition was co-hosted by four Southeast Asian nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This multi-nation approach was a significant departure from previous years, as the tournament had traditionally been held every four years since 1956. However, the AFC decided to shift the schedule starting in 2007, moving the tournament to a different year than the Summer Olympic Games and the European Football Championship. The event's timing was adjusted to avoid clashing with the Summer Olympics and the European Football Championship. This scheduling change ensured the tournament would be held every four years from that point onwards.

The competition was defined by significant upsets and historical milestones. Defending champions Japan failed to secure automatic qualification, while Australia participated for the first time following their move from the OFC to the AFC in 2006. On the pitch, Iraq achieved a historic victory, claiming their first continental title after a 1–0 win over three-time champions Saudi Arabia in the final. This victory earned Iraq a place in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. The tournament also featured several notable debuts, such as Vietnam and Malaysia qualifying for the first time since 1960 and 1980 respectively. Additionally, the competition saw several major upsets during the group stages, including poor performances from South Korea and Australia.

The tournament's scale was immense, reaching an estimated worldwide television audience of 650 million people. It also introduced new technical standards, such as seeding based on the October 2006 FIFA World Rankings rather than previous tournament performances. While the event was a sporting success, it was also marked by tragedy; during the celebrations following Iraq's semi-final victory, terrorist bombings in Baghdad killed approximately 50 Iraqis. The tournament's official match ball was produced by Nike and featured the names of the host cities. Furthermore, the official anthem for the event was the 2004 single 'I Believe' by Thai singer Tata Young.

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