Four Asian teams, including host Japan, will compete in the men’s football tournament, while Asako Takakura’s Asian champions will be one of three to take part in the women’s competition, making the battle to represent the Continent one with little margin for error.

Both competitions have already seen dramatic qualifying action in Asia. The Road to Tokyo’s women’s football tournament began in Asia on November 4, 2018, while the first men’s qualifiers got underway on March 22, 2019, with final tournaments to be staged in early 2020 to determine the Continent's representatives.

Defending champions Uzbekistan advanced, as did runners-up Vietnam, who defeated the host of the 2020 Finals Thailand 4-0 to emerge as Group K winners with a perfect record of three wins.

Also through were Iraq, the champions of 2013, and Japan, winners in 2016.

The striker was on hand to convert a Dostonbek Khamdamov corner with his first touch of the game, after a 1-1 draw had forced the game into an additional 30 minutes.

While Uzbekistan’s victory saw them add to the AFC U-16 Championship title they won in 2012, it also brought the curtain down on a remarkable Vietnam campaign, one which will live long in the memory of the Southeast Asian nation’s supporters.

In decidedly wintry conditions at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center, it was Uzbekistan who controlled the early proceedings, and they duly took the lead on eight minutes when a poorly marked Rustamjon Ashurmatov headed home Khamdamov’s outswinging corner.

Uzbekistan continued to press after the breakthrough, as both a Javokhir Sidikov header and Khamdamov’s effort from 20 yards forced Vietnam goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung into smart saves.

Despite struggling to fully impose themselves on the game, Vietnam briefly threatened to restore parity shortly after the half hour mark when Pham Xuan Manh’s excellent cross narrowly eluded the onrushing Phan Vanh Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai.

However, after seeing Azizjon Ganiev fire narrowly over, Vietnam drew level on the stroke of half-time. Nguyen Cong Phuong was brought down on the edge of the area, and from the resulting free-kick Quang Hai superbly curled the ball past the despairing dive of Botirali Ergashev to register his fifth goal of the tournament.

The match was broadcast live on three major channels in Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City Television’s HTV-9 as well as Vietnam Television’s VTV-2 and VTV-6.

According to data released by CSM Media Research and KantarMedia Vietnam, over 5.3 million people – almost half of the entire measurable TV population of 11.4 million in Vietnam – watched the final, making the AFC U23 Championship one of the country’s most-watched television programmes in recent years. The final achieved a staggering 77% share of viewing in Vietnam, which means three out of four Vietnamese watching television that afternoon were tuned in to the match.

Vietnam’s remarkable performance also registered a powerful viral effect on social media. The AFC’s official Facebook page (theAFCdotcom) earned close to 1.5 million engagements in Vietnam alone; and by the final whistle, the page had secured a nine-fold increase of 165,079 followers from Vietnam, making the country the second biggest fan group on the channel.

Throughout the tournament, AFC’s Facebook page achieved an impressive reach of over 11 million and close to 17 million video views in Vietnam. This translated to over 150,000 hours Vietnamese fans spent watching the videos. On AFC’s YouTube channel, the response was equally overwhelming, with more than four million Vietnamese fans clocking close to 6.5 million minutes of viewing time.

AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John said, “The solid ratings on Vietnamese television and social media underscore the enduring appeal of football in this region, and demonstrate the power of engaging local communities with meaningful experiences and content that truly matter to them. Watching fans pour out into the streets to welcome their national heroes, packing public viewing spaces to capacity, and decorating the stadium with their country’s colours were proud moments for all of us.

“As we celebrate Uzbekistan’s historical victory at the AFC U23 Championship, we are equally encouraged by Vietnam’s performance, and applaud the phenomenal strides both nations have made to reach the final of the most prestigious platform for Asia’s future stars to shine.”

“Special praise must also go to the Vietnam Football Federation for their continued progress and proactive efforts in developing the game at all levels, which was recognised at the AFC Annual Awards Night in Bangkok last year when they earned the AFC Developing Member Associations of the Year award.”

CHINESE TAIPEI 4-1 IR IRAN

A powerful first-half display ensured any pre-match nerves for Chinese Taipei quickly disappeared, as Kauzo Echigo's side reached the last eight with an emphatic victory at Grand Hamad Stadium.

Three teams were still in contention going into Matchday Three, but a draw or better was all Chinese Taipei needed, and they made life easy for themselves with a fast start, which removed any danger of final day disappointment.

VIETNAM 2-0 JORDAN

Vietnam clicked into gear in the second half to seal their place in Round 3, eventually seeing off a stubborn Jordan to claim top spot in Group B with a 2-0 win at Transportation Institute Stadium.

The Southeast Asians needed only a point to confirm their status as group winners, but they left the pitch with all three after Nguyen Thi Van and Hunyh Nhu scored within two minutes of each other to finally edge out Azzedine Chih's side in the second half.

MYANMAR 3-3 INDIA

Myanmar and India shared six goals in a thrilling 3-3 draw, but only one side was celebrating as the group hosts reached the final eight on goal difference.

Win Theingi Tun played a crucial role in Myanmar's progression, netting all three of their goals in a gripping, see-sawing encounter in which the lead changed hands three times.