AFL Asia Cup

AFL Asia Cup

Sport	Australian rules football
First season	2024
No. of teams	2024: 10 men's & 4 women's
Country	Host: Vietnam
Most recent champion(s)	Japan (men) Thailand (women)
Most titles	Japan (men; 1 title) Thailand (women; 1 title)
TV partner(s)	YouTube

The AFL Asia Cup is a triennial international tournament in Australian rules football. It is the biggest international tournament in the sport that is open to all nations in Asia. It was created as a replacement of the AFL International Cup alongside the AFL Transatlantic Cup and the AFL Pacific Cup after the competition was affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

History

In August 2021, the AFL announced that the IC would return in 2023 to align with its original three-year schedule but did not announce the host. ^[1] On 22 April 2022, the AFL announced it was postponing the International Cup until 2024 citing "significant investment required from the AFL to host the event". However, on 24 July 2023, the AFL announced that, in lieu of the International Cup, that it would be sponsoring three regional events in 2024: the Trans-Atlantic Cup, the Asia Cup, and the Pacific Cup to be hosted by an international affiliate. The AFL gave no indication as to when the International Cup would be resumed, however indicated that these are the only AFL sanctioned international tournaments since 2017 (effectively nullifying the 2019 and 2022 AFL Europe Championship). ^[2] AFL Canada was announced as host of the Transatlantic Cup to be held at the Humber College Oval at Colonel Samuel Smith Park in Toronto on August 2–11, ^[3] The Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland was announced as the host of the Pacific Cup on 14–24 November. ^[4] Thanh Long Sports Center in Vietnam would host the Asia Cup at in Ho Chi Minh City from December 6–8 in 2024. ^[5] The AFL announced strict selection criteria, that each player must hold citizenship for the country that they are representing and must have played in from a local competition in that country. ^[5]

The 2024 competition was contested by 10 teams in the men's division and 4 teams in the women's division. It resulted with Japan winning the men's and Thailand winning the women's ^[6]

Men's Asia Cup

Flag(s)	Nation(s)	Moniker	2024 (10)	2027
	Cambodia	Cobras	2nd
	China	Dragons	8th
	Hong Kong, China	Lions	5th
	India	Tigers	3rd
	Indonesia	Garudas	4th
	Japan	Samurai	1st
	Laos	Elephants	9th
	Pakistan	Shaheens	6th
	Thailand	Serpents	7th
	Vietnam	Buffalos	10th

Women's Asia Cup

Flag(s)	Nation(s)	Moniker	2024 (4)	2027
	Cambodia	Asparas	2nd
	China	Dragons	4th
	Indonesia	Garudas	3rd
	Thailand	Serpents	1st

References

1. Thompson, Troy (25 August 2021). "AFL Confirms Commitment to 2023 International Cup". WorldFootyNews.com.
2. "AFL confirms international regional events for 2024". AFL. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
3. Transatlantic Cup set for Canada in August 2024 8 December 2023
4. Maroochydore to host AFL's 2024 Pacific Cup 8 May 2024
5. AFL’s Asia Cup set for Vietnam in December 2024 26 July 2024
6. "AFL Asia Cup wrap: Japan, Thailand claim the crowns". Australian Football League. Retrieved 10 March 2025.