2023 WAFF U-23 Championship

Last updated
2023 WAFF U-23 Championship
بطولة غرب آسيا لكرة القدم تحت 23 عاما
Tournament details
Host countryIraq
City Baghdad and Karbala
Dates12–20 June
Teams9 (from 1 confederation) (from 2 sub-confederations)
Venue(s)2 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Iraq.svg  Iraq (1st title)
Runners-upFlag of Iran.svg  Iran
Tournament statistics
Matches played12
Goals scored27 (2.25 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Iraq.svg Hussein Abdullah
(3 goals)
Best player(s) Flag of Iraq.svg Muntadher Mohammed
Best goalkeeper Flag of Iraq.svg Kumel Al-Rekabe
2022
2024

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. [1]

Contents

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. [2]

Teams

Nine teams took part in the competition. [3]

TeamAppearancePrevious best performance
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 2ndWinners (2015)
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 2ndSemi-finals (2021)
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 3rdWinners (2021)
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 3rdGroup stage (2021, 2022)
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 4thFourth place (2022)
Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 3rdGroup stage (2015, 2021)
Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg  Syria 4thRunners-up (2015)
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 3rdGroup stage (2015, 2021)
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 3rdFourth place (2015)

Draw

The draw for the group stage took place on Thursday 25 May 2023 in Muscat, Oman at 15:00 UTC+3. [4]

Group A
PosTeam
A1Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
A2Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
A3Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Group B
PosTeam
B1Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine
B2Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
B3Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg  Syria
Group C
PosTeam
C1Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
C2Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
C3Flag of Oman.svg  Oman

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.

Venues

Flag of Iraq.svg Baghdad Flag of Iraq.svg Karbala
Al-Madina Stadium Karbala Stadium
Capacity: 30,000Capacity: 30,000

Group stage

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq (H)211052+34 Knockout stage
2Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 211043+14
3Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 20021540
Source: GSA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Jordan  Flag of Jordan.svg2–2Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
Report
Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Faisal Al-Blwi (Saudi Arabia)

United Arab Emirates  Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg1–2Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Report
Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad
Attendance: 500
Referee: Ali Al Ashkar (Lebanon)

Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg3–0Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
Report
Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad
Attendance: 25,931
Referee: Yahya Al Balushi (Oman)

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 211042+24 Knockout stage
2Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 211021+14
3Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg  Syria 20021430
Updated to match(es) played on 14 June 2023. Source: GSA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Syria  Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg0–1Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine
Report
Karbala Stadium, Karbala
Referee: Ahmad Yacoub Ibrahim (Jordan)

Iran  Flag of Iran.svg3–1Flag of the United Arab Republic (1958-1971), Flag of Syria (1980-2024).svg  Syria
Report
Karbala Stadium, Karbala
Referee: Ahmed Kadhim Gatea (Iraq)

Palestine  Flag of Palestine.svg1–1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Report
Karbala Stadium, Karbala
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Feras Yousef (Yemen)

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 220040+46 Knockout stage
2Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 21012423
3Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 20021320
Source: GSA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Oman  Flag of Oman.svg1–0Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Al-Abdulsalam Soccerball shade.svg42' (pen.) Report
Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Sultan Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)

Yemen  Flag of Yemen.svg0–3Flag of Oman.svg  Oman
Report
Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad
Attendance: 500
Referee: Feras Taweel (Syria)

Lebanon  Flag of Lebanon.svg1–2Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
Sadek Soccerball shade.svg53' Report
Al-Madina Stadium, Baghdad
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Baraa Aisha (Palestine)

Ranking of Runners-ups

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

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 211043+14 Knockout stage
2Flag of Palestine.svg  Palestine 211021+14
3Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 21012423
First match(es) will be played: 12 June 2023. Source: [ citation needed ]
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Knockout stage

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
18 June – Baghdad
 
 
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 0 (4)
 
20 June – Baghdad
 
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 0 (3)
 
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 1 (4)
 
18 June – Baghdad
 
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 1 (5)
 
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 1
 
 
Flag of Oman.svg  Oman 0
 

Semi-finals

Iran  Flag of Iran.svg0–0Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Report
Penalties
Y. Salmani Soccerball shad check.svg
Hazbavi Soccerball shade cross.svg
A. Bavieh Soccerball shad check.svg
M. Ghorbani Soccerball shad check.svg
Hashemnejad Soccerball shad check.svg
4–3Soccerball shad check.svg Al-Diabat
Soccerball shade cross.svg Abualnadi
Soccerball shade cross.svg Jamous
Soccerball shad check.svg Al-Shanaineh
Soccerball shad check.svg Abu Taha
Al-Madina Stadium , Baghdad
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Husain Al Showaikh (Bahrain)

Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg1–0Flag of Oman.svg  Oman
Al-Rawahi Soccerball shade.svg52' (o.g.) Report
Al-Madina Stadium , Baghdad
Attendance: 29,566
Referee: Faisal Al-Blwi (Saudi Arabia)

Final

Winners

 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship champion 
Flag of Iraq.svg
Iraq
First title

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament: [5]

Awards

Player of the Tournament

Flag of Iraq.svg Muntadher Mohammed

Golden Boot

Flag of Iraq.svg Hussein Abdullah (3 goals)

Golden Glove

Flag of Iraq.svg Kumel Al-Rekabe

Final standing

Goalscorers

There have been 27 goals scored in 12 matches, for an average of 2.25 goals per match.

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Broadcasting rights

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

TerritoryRights holder(s)
Iraq Al Iraqiya

Alrabiaa Network Television

United Arab Emirates AD Sports

Dubai Sports

Jordan Jordan Sports TV
Yemen Al-Saeeda

References

  1. "إيران تشارك في بطولة غرب آسيا تحت 23 عاماً بالعراق".
  2. ""أسود الرافدين" يفرض تألقه ويحقق أول ألقابه في بطولة تحت ٢٣ عاماً". 21 June 2023.
  3. "قرعة النسخة الرابعة من بطولة تحت ٢٣ عاماً تسحب.. الإثنين". 28 May 2023.
  4. "قرعة بطولة تحت ٢٣ عاماً تكشف معالم المجموعات الثلاث". 29 May 2023.
  5. "هيمنة عراقية على جوائز بطولة غرب آسيا". kooora.com. 20 June 2023.