2023 WAFF U-23 Championship
بطولة غرب آسيا لكرة القدم تحت 23 عاما
The Al-Madina Stadium in Al-Habibiya, Baghdad will host the matches
Tournament details
Host country Iraq
CityBaghdad and Karbala
Dates12–20 June
Teams9 (from 1 confederation) (from 2 sub-confederations)
Venue(s)2 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Iraq (1st title)
Runners-up Iran
Tournament statistics
Matches played12
Goals scored27 (2.25 per match)
Top scorer(s)Iraq Hussein Abdullah
(3 goals)
Best player(s)Iraq Muntadher Mohammed
Best goalkeeperIraq Kumel Al-Rekabe

The 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship was the fourth edition of the WAFF U-23 Championship the biennial international age-restricted football championship organized by the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) for the men's under-23 national teams of West Asia. A total of nine teams competed in the tournament, with one team being invited.[1]

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]

Team Appearance Previous best performance
 Iran2ndWinners (2015)
 Iraq2ndSemi-finals (2021)
 Jordan3rdWinners (2021)
 Lebanon3rdGroup stage (2021, 2022)
 Oman4thFourth place (2022)
 Palestine3rdGroup stage (2015, 2021)
 Syria4thRunners-up (2015)
 United Arab Emirates3rdGroup stage (2015, 2021)
 Yemen3rdFourth place (2015)

Draw

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

Group A
PosTeam
A1 Iraq
A2 United Arab Emirates
A3 Jordan
Group B
PosTeam
B1 Palestine
B2 Iran
B3 Syria
Group C
PosTeam
C1 Lebanon
C2 Yemen
C3 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

Iraq Baghdad Iraq Karbala
Al-Madina Stadium Karbala Stadium
Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 30,000

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Iraq (H) 2 1 1 0 5 2 +3 4 Knockout stage
2  Jordan 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1 4
3  United Arab Emirates 2 0 0 2 1 5 −4 0
Source: GSA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Jordan 2–2 Iraq
  • Abualnadi 22' (pen.) 50'
 Report
  • Hassan 19'
  • Abdullah 29'
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Faisal Al-Blwi (Saudi Arabia)
United Arab Emirates 1–2 Jordan
 Report
  • Abushanab 82'
  • Dhawi 90+1' (o.g.)
Attendance: 500
Referee: Ali Al Ashkar (Lebanon)
Iraq 3–0 United Arab Emirates
  • Hassan 26'
  • Abdullah 73'
  • Al-Mosawe 87'
 Report
Attendance: 25,931
Referee: Yahya Al Balushi (Oman)

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Iran 2 1 1 0 4 2 +2 4 Knockout stage
2  Palestine 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4
3  Syria 2 0 0 2 1 4 −3 0
Updated to match(es) played on 14 June 2023. Source: GSA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Syria 0–1 Palestine
Report
  • Haj Yousef 37'
Referee: Ahmad Yacoub Ibrahim (Jordan)
Iran 3–1 Syria
 Report
  • M.Al Aswad 45'
Referee: Ahmed Kadhim Gatea (Iraq)
Palestine 1–1 Iran
  • Qunbor 62'
 Report
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Feras Yousef (Yemen)

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Oman 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 6 Knockout stage
2  Yemen 2 1 0 1 2 4 −2 3
3  Lebanon 2 0 0 2 1 3 −2 0
Source: GSA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Oman 1–0 Lebanon
Al-Abdulsalam 42' (pen.) Report
Attendance: 1,500
Referee: Sultan Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)
Yemen 0–3 Oman
Report
  • Al-Gaithiri 8'
  • Al-Rawahi 54' (pen.)
  • Al-Hadabi 90+2'
Attendance: 500
Referee: Feras Taweel (Syria)
Lebanon 1–2 Yemen
Sadek 53' Report
  • Al-Sharif 55'
  • Mahrous 65'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Baraa Aisha (Palestine)

Ranking of Runners-ups

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

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Jordan 2 1 1 0 4 3 +1 4 Knockout stage
2  Palestine 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 4
3  Yemen 2 1 0 1 2 4 −2 3
First match(es) will be played: 12 June 2023. Source:
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers

Knockout stage

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
18 June – Baghdad
 
 
 Iran 0 (4)
 
20 June – Baghdad
 
 Jordan 0 (3)
 
 Iran1 (4)
 
18 June – Baghdad
 
  Iraq 1 (5)
 
 Iraq1
 
 
 Oman 0
 

Semi-finals

Iran 0–0 Jordan
Report
Penalties
Y. Salmani soccer ball with check mark
Hazbavi soccer ball with red X
A. Bavieh soccer ball with check mark
M. Ghorbani soccer ball with check mark
Hashemnejad soccer ball with check mark		 4–3 soccer ball with check mark Al-Diabat
soccer ball with red X Abualnadi
soccer ball with red X Jamous
soccer ball with check markAl-Shanaineh
soccer ball with check mark Abu Taha
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Husain Al Showaikh (Bahrain)
Iraq 1–0 Oman
Al-Rawahi 52' (o.g.) Report
Attendance: 29,566
Referee: Faisal Al-Blwi (Saudi Arabia)

Final

Iran 1–1 Iraq
Goudarzi 31' Report Abdullah 45+3'
Penalties
Y. Salmani soccer ball with check mark
Fallah soccer ball with red X
Irankhah soccer ball with check mark
M. Ghorbani soccer ball with check mark
Hashemnejad soccer ball with check mark		 4–5 soccer ball with check mark K. Mohammed
soccer ball with check mark Tahseen
soccer ball with check mark Abdullah
soccer ball with check mark M. Mohammed
soccer ball with check mark Maknzi
Attendance: 32,000
Referee: Sultan Al Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)

Winners

 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship champion 

Iraq
First title

Awards

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

Awards

Player of the Tournament

Iraq Muntadher Mohammed

Golden Boot

Iraq Hussein Abdullah (3 goals)

Golden Glove

Iraq 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

  • Iraq Hussein Abdullah

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

  • Jordan Mohammad Abualnadi (against United Arab Emirates)
  • Oman Nasser Al-Rawahi (against Iraq)
  • United Arab Emirates Nawaf Dhawi (against Jordan)

Broadcasting rights

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

Territory Rights 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".
  3. ↑ "قرعة النسخة الرابعة من بطولة تحت ٢٣ عاماً تسحب.. الإثنين".
  4. ↑ "قرعة بطولة تحت ٢٣ عاماً تكشف معالم المجموعات الثلاث".
  5. ↑ "هيمنة عراقية على جوائز بطولة غرب آسيا". kooora.com.
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