View source for 2015 AFC Asian Cup

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox international football competition
| tourney_name = AFC Asian Cup
| year         = 2015
| image        = 2015 AFC Asian Cup logo.svg
| size         = 200px
| country      = Australia
| dates        = 9–31 January
| num_teams    = 16
| confederations = 1
| venues       = 5
| cities       = 5
| champion     = AUS
| count        = 1
| second       = KOR
| third        = UAE
| fourth       = IRQ
| matches      = 32
| goals        = 85
| attendance   = 705705
| top_scorer   = {{flagicon|UAE}} [[Ali Mabkhout]]<br />(5 goals)
| player       = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Massimo Luongo]]
| goalkeeper   = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mathew Ryan]]
| fair_play    = {{fb|AUS}}
| prevseason   = [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]
| nextseason   = [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019]]
}}

[[File:2015 AFC Asian Cup.png|upright=1.4|thumb|Result of countries participating in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup{{col-start}}{{col-3}}{{legend|#2b42a3|Champion}}{{legend|#34c0be|Runner-up}}
{{col-3}}{{legend|#269c5a|Third place}}{{legend|#81c846|Fourth place}}
{{col-3}}{{legend|#e4e454|Quarter-finals}}{{legend|#b94954|Group stage}} {{col-end}}]]

The '''2015 AFC Asian Cup''' was the 16th edition of the men's [[AFC Asian Cup]], a [[quadrennial]] international [[association football|football]] tournament organised by the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC). It was held in [[Australia]] from 9 to 31 January 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-asian-cup-2015-venues-and-schedule-unveiled |title=AFC Asian Cup 2015 venues and schedule unveiled |publisher=the-afc.com}}</ref> The tournament was won by [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] after defeating [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] 2–1 [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|in extra time]] in the [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Final|final]], thereby earning the right to participate in the [[2017 FIFA Confederations Cup]], which was hosted by [[Russia]]. The win was Australia's first Asian title since their move from the [[Oceania Football Confederation]] (OFC) in 2006. It was also the first time a men's team has become champions of two confederations, following Australia's four [[OFC Nations Cup]] titles: [[1980 OFC Nations Cup|1980]], [[1996 OFC Nations Cup|1996]], [[2000 OFC Nations Cup|2000]] and [[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004]]; right after the [[Australia women's national soccer team|Australian women's team]] won the [[2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup]]. Australia thus became the final and permanent holder of the old AFC Asian Cup trophy, as the new trophy [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|would debut in the tournament four years later]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/news/the_2015_afc_asian_cup_remembered.html | title=The 2015 AFC Asian Cup Remembered }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/news/new_afc_asian_cup_trophy_lands_in_the_uae_after_engaging_tour.html | title=New AFC Asian Cup trophy lands in the UAE after engaging tour }}</ref>

Australia was chosen as the host on 5 January 2011, after being the sole bidder for the right to host the 2015 tournament. The matches were played in five different stadiums across five cities: [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]], [[Brisbane]], [[Canberra]] and [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]. It was the first time that Australia had hosted the tournament, and it was also the first time the Asian Cup had been held outside the [[continent]] of [[Asia]]. As hosts, Australia automatically qualified for the final tournament, while the remaining 15 finalists (with the exception of Japan and South Korea who qualified via their top three position in the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|previous Asian Cup]]) were decided through a [[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification|qualification process]], featuring 44 teams, from February 2013 to March 2014.

The final tournament was played in two stages: the group stage and the knockout stage. In the group stage each team played three games in a group of four, with the winners and runners-up from each group advancing to the knockout stage. In the knockout stage the eight teams competed in [[single-elimination tournament|single-elimination]] matches, beginning with the quarter-finals and ending with the final match of the tournament. A third-place match was also played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals ([[Iraq national football team|Iraq]] and the [[United Arab Emirates national football team|United Arab Emirates]]). This was also the last time the tournament had a third-place match, as it wasn't played since the [[2019 AFC Asian Cup|2019 edition]].

[[Japan national football team|Japan]] were the defending champions going into the tournament, having won the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|previous competition in 2011]]. They recorded their worst finish in the [[AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]] since the [[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996 edition in the United Arab Emirates]], being knocked out in the quarter-finals by that team in a penalty shootout.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.sportsmirchi.com/uae-out-title-defender-japan-to-enter-in-asian-cup-semi-final-2015/| title=UAE out title defender Japan to enter in asian cup semi-final 2015| access-date=24 January 2015}}</ref>

==Host selection==
Australia initially put forward its bid to host the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia's bid to host 2015 AFC Asian Cup |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/australias-bid-to-host-2015-afc-asian-cup/1dycpy337r16q1oop27e6qcu55 |publisher=footballaustralia.com.au |access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref> As the sole bidder for the hosting rights, Australia was officially named host on 5 January 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia to host 2015 AFC Asian Cup |url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/135/950/4/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925003757/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/135/950/4/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 September 2014 |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref>

{{blockquote|Considering the efforts of the [[Football Federation Australia]] in developing the game on their territory and considering also all the achievements that have been made towards the development of football in Australia and to encourage Australia to take steps towards developing the game, I am happy and honoured to announce that the executive committee of the [[Asian Football Confederation]] has approved Australia as the host nation of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.|[[List of Presidents of AFC|AFC President]], [[Mohammed Bin Hammam]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/australia-to-host-2015-afc-asian-cup |title=Australia to host 2015 AFC Asian Cup |publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]] |date=5 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023004129/http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/australia-to-host-2015-afc-asian-cup |archive-date=23 October 2014 }}</ref>}}

==Teams==
===Qualification===
{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification}}
The 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification process determined the 16 participating teams for the tournament. In the initial scheme, ten places were determined by qualification matches, while six places were reserved for the 2015 host nation, top three finishers in the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]], and the two winners of the [[AFC Challenge Cup]]. Though, as the host nation Australia also finished as runners-up in the 2011 Asian Cup, the initial six automatic qualification spots were reduced to five, with a total of 11 spots eventually determined by the qualification matches, in which 20 AFC members competed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-asian-cup-news/inside-afc-asian-cup/32914-automatic-bye-to-2015-finals-for-top-three- |title=Automatic bye to 2015 Finals for top-three |publisher=the-afc.com |date=24 January 2011}}</ref>

There were two main competitive paths to the 2015 Asian Cup. The AFC Challenge Cup acted as a qualification competition for eligible countries within the emerging and developing category of member associations. The winners of the AFC Challenge Cup competitions in [[2012 AFC Challenge Cup|2012]] and [[2014 AFC Challenge Cup|2014]] qualified automatically for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup finals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/inside-afc/676-afc-news/31494-afc-competitions-committee- |title=AFC Competitions Committee |publisher=[[Asian Football Confederation]] |date=23 November 2010 |access-date=24 January 2011}}</ref> The remaining spots were available for the teams competing in the main Asian Cup preliminaries. The [[Asian Football Confederation|AFC]] decided that the 20 teams involved in the qualifiers would be split into five groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group and one best third-placed team from among all the groups would qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-asian-cup-australia-2015%E2%84%A2-preliminary-draw-results |title=AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 preliminary draw results |publisher=the-afc.com |date=9 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023000743/http://www.the-afc.com/media-releases/afc-asian-cup-australia-2015%E2%84%A2-preliminary-draw-results |archive-date=23 October 2014 }}</ref>

====Qualified teams====
Out of the sixteen teams that qualified, fourteen had participated in the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011 tournament]]. [[Oman national football team|Oman]] qualified for the first time since [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]]. [[Palestine national football team|Palestine]], winners of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup, were the only team making their first appearance in the tournament. [[India national football team|India]] and [[Syria national football team|Syria]] are the only two teams from the 2011 tournament who failed to qualify for the subsequent edition. Excluding hosts [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]], none of the other 11 members of the [[ASEAN Football Federation]] qualified, nor did any of the [[South Asian Football Federation|South Asian]] national teams.

[[File:2015 AFC Asian Cup Qualification.png|thumb|200px|{{legend|#0000cc|Qualified for Asian Cup}} {{legend|#cc0000|Failed to qualify}}{{legend|black|Did not enter}} {{legend|#9b9b9b|Not an AFC member}}]]

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! Team
! Method of<br />qualification
! Date of<br />qualification
! Finals<br />appearance
! Last<br />appearance
! Previous best<br />performance
|-
| {{fb|AUS}} || {{Sort|*Hosts|Hosts}} || {{Sort|01|5 January 2011}} || {{Sort|03|3rd}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || Runners-up ([[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]) 
|-
| {{fb|JPN}} || {{Sort|111|[[2011 AFC Asian Cup]] winners}} || {{Sort|02|25 January 2011}} || {{Sort|08|8th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || '''Winners''' ([[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]], [[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]], [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]], [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]) 
|-
| {{fb|KOR}} || {{Sort|112|[[2011 AFC Asian Cup]] 3rd place}} || {{Sort|03|28 January 2011}} || {{Sort|13|13th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || '''Winners''' ([[1956 AFC Asian Cup|1956]], [[1960 AFC Asian Cup|1960]]) 
|-
| {{fb|PRK}} || {{Sort|121|[[2012 AFC Challenge Cup]] winners}} || {{Sort|04|19 March 2012}} || {{Sort|04|4th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || Fourth place ([[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]]) 
|-
| {{fb|BHR}} || {{Sort|D1|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group D|Group D]] winners}} || {{Sort|05|15 November 2013}} || {{Sort|05|5th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || Fourth place ([[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]) 
|-
| {{fb|UAE}} || {{Sort|E1|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group E|Group E]] winners}} || {{Sort|06|15 November 2013}} || {{Sort|09|9th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || Runners-up ([[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]]) 
|-
| {{fb|KSA}} || {{Sort|C1|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group C|Group C]] winners}} || {{Sort|07|15 November 2013}} || {{Sort|09|9th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || '''Winners''' ([[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]], [[1988 AFC Asian Cup|1988]], [[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]])
|-
| {{fb|OMA}} || {{Sort|A1|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group A|Group A]] winners}} || {{Sort|08|19 November 2013}} || {{Sort|03|3rd}} || [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]] || Group stage ([[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]], [[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]]) 
|-
| {{fb|UZB}} || {{Sort|E2|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group E|Group E]] runners-up}} || {{Sort|09|19 November 2013}} || {{Sort|6|6th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || Fourth place ([[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]) 
|-
| {{fb|QAT}} || {{Sort|D2|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group D|Group D]] runners-up}} || {{Sort|10|19 November 2013}} || {{Sort|9|9th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || Quarter-finals ([[2000 AFC Asian Cup|2000]], [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]) 
|-
| {{fb|IRN}} || {{Sort|B1|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group B|Group B]] winners}} || {{Sort|11|19 November 2013}} || {{Sort|13|13th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] ||  '''Winners''' ([[1968 AFC Asian Cup|1968]], [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]], [[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]]) 
|-
| {{fb|KUW}} || {{Sort|B2|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group B|Group B]] runners-up}} || {{Sort|12|19 November 2013}} || {{Sort|10|10th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] ||  '''Winners''' ([[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980]]) 
|-
| {{fb|JOR}} || {{Sort|A2|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group A|Group A]] runners-up}} || {{Sort|13|4 February 2014}} || {{Sort|03|3rd}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || Quarter-finals ([[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]], [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]) 
|-
| {{fb|IRQ}} || {{Sort|C2|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Group C|Group C]] runners-up}} || {{Sort|14|5 March 2014}} || {{Sort|08|8th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || '''Winners''' ([[2007 AFC Asian Cup|2007]])
|-
| {{fb|CHN}} || {{Sort|TP1|[[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification#Ranking of third-placed teams|Best third-placed team]]}} || {{Sort|15|5 March 2014}} || {{Sort|11|11th}} || [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]] || Runners-up ([[1984 AFC Asian Cup|1984]], [[2004 AFC Asian Cup|2004]]) 
|-
| {{fb|PLE}} || {{Sort|141|[[2014 AFC Challenge Cup]] winners}} || {{Sort|16|30 May 2014}} || {{Sort|01|1st}} || N/A || N/A 
|}

===Draw===
[[File:Sydney Opera House, botanic gardens 1.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Sydney Opera House]], location for the final draw]]
The draw for the final tournament occurred at the [[Sydney Opera House]] on 26 March 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2015/afc-asian-cup-draw-set-for-march-26-at-sydney-opera-house |title=AFC Asian Cup draw set for March 26 at Sydney Opera House |publisher=AFC |date=6 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023004244/http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2015/afc-asian-cup-draw-set-for-march-26-at-sydney-opera-house |archive-date=23 October 2014 }}</ref> The draw procedure involved the 16 participating teams drawn at random into the four groups of the group stage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/afc-asian-cup-groups-decided/182xrxxa3z9ve1pbb6ddwncp5h |title=AFC Asian Cup Groups Decided |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |date=26 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328212924/http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/afc-asian-cup-groups-decided/182xrxxa3z9ve1pbb6ddwncp5h |archive-date=28 March 2014 }}</ref> In preparation for this, the teams were organised into four pots based on a seeding which used the March 2014 [[FIFA World Rankings]] (rankings beside the qualified teams). The draw and seeding ensured a fair distribution of teams in the groups, with each of the four groups in the group stage made up of one team from each pot. The host nation (Australia) was automatically placed into Pot 1, with the team having been predetermined to be in Group A.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/asian-cup-2015/asian-cup-2015-draw-mechanism-revealed |title=Asian Cup 2015 draw mechanism revealed |publisher=AFC |date=17 March 2014}}</ref> In addition, at the time of the draw, the identity of the [[2014 AFC Challenge Cup]] winners (Palestine) was not known yet, and they were automatically placed into Pot 4.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:98%;"
|-
!width=25%|Pot 1
!width=25%|Pot 2
!width=25%|Pot 3
!width=25%|Pot 4
|-
|{{fb|AUS}} (63) ''(hosts)''<br>{{fb|IRN}} (42)<br>{{fb|JPN}} (48)<br>{{fb|UZB}} (55)
|{{fb|KOR}} (60)<br>{{fb|UAE}} (61)<br>{{fb|JOR}} (66)<br>{{fb|KSA}} (75)
|{{fb|OMA}} (81)<br>{{fb|CHN}} (98)<br>{{fb|QAT}} (101)<br>{{fb|IRQ}} (103)
|{{fb|BHR}} (106)<br>{{fb|KUW}} (110)<br>{{fb|PRK}} (133)<br>{{fb|PLE}} (167)
|}

==Venues==

===Stadiums===
The five host cities for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, [[Sydney]], [[Melbourne]], [[Brisbane]], [[Canberra]] and [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]], were announced on 27 March 2013, with a total five stadiums to be used.<ref name="Venues and Match Schedule">{{cite web|title=Venues and Match Schedule |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/site/_content/document/00001214-source.pdf |publisher=footballaustralia.com.au |access-date=27 March 2013 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

{{Clear}}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! [[Sydney]]
! [[Brisbane]]
! [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]
|-
| [[Stadium Australia]]
| [[Lang Park|Brisbane Stadium]]
| [[Newcastle International Sports Centre|Newcastle Stadium]]
|-
| [[Seating capacity|Capacity]]: '''84,000'''
| Capacity: '''52,500'''
| Capacity: '''33,000'''<ref name="newcastlecapacity">{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/asian-cup-officials-rule-out-moving-semifinal-from-newcastles-hunter-stadium-20150119-12tl7h.html | title=Asian Cup officials rule out moving semi-final from Newcastle's Hunter Stadium | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=19 January 2015 | access-date=24 January 2015 | author=Linden, Julian | quote=The second semi is set to be played a day later at Newcastle's Hunter Stadium, which has a capacity of just 23,000.}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:Sydney-Galaxy-homebush.jpg|200px]]
| [[File:Suncorpstadium071006a.JPG|200px]]
| [[File:NewcastleKnights.jpg|200px]]
|-
! [[Melbourne]]
!rowspan=8 colspan=2|{{location map+ |float=middle |Australia|width=450 |caption= |places=
{{location map~ |Australia|lat=-27.28 |long=153.01 |label=[[Brisbane]] |position=left|outside=1 }}
{{location map~ |Australia|lat=-32.55 |long=151.45 |label=[[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] |position=top }}
{{location map~ |Australia|lat=-33.51 |long=151.12 |label=[[Sydney]] |position=left }}
{{location map~ |Australia|lat=-35.18 |long=149.07 |label=[[Canberra]] |position=bottom }}
{{location map~ |Australia|lat=-37.48 |long=144.57 |label=[[Melbourne]] |position=left }}
}}
|-
|[[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]]
|-
| Capacity: '''30,050'''
|-
| [[File:Backofamipark.JPG|200px]]
|-
! [[Canberra]]
|-
| [[Canberra Stadium]]
|-
| Capacity: '''25,011'''
|-
| [[File:BruceStadium19032005.JPG|200px]]
|}

===Ticketing===
Tickets for the venues were sold directly by AFC via its website, or distributed by the football associations of the 16 finalists. 500,000 tickets were available for the 31 tournament matches.<ref name=twgticketing>{{cite web |title=Publicity blitz set to boost Asian Cup attendances |url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/11/25/publicity-blitz-set-boost-asian-cup-attendances |publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au |access-date=8 December 2014}}</ref> Over 45,000 international visitors were forecast to visit Australia during the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |title=Qualifying for AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 begins |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/qualifying-for-afc-asian-cup-australia-2015-begins/60164 |publisher=footballaustralia.com.au |access-date=8 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214072904/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/qualifying-for-afc-asian-cup-australia-2015-begins/60164 |archive-date=14 December 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Prices varied from $10 (for a seat behind the goals at a group match) to $150 (for a seat in the main stand at the final). In addition to individual match tickets, fans could buy packages to see all matches played at one specific venue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tickets |url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/ticketshome/en/ |publisher=afcasiancup.com |access-date=18 November 2014 |archive-date=12 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112021828/http://www.afcasiancup.com/ticketshome/en |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Team base camps===
Each team had a "team base camp" for its stay between the matches. From an initial list of 27 potential locations, the national associations chose their locations in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |title=27 more cities keen to join Asian Cup party |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/27-more-cities-keen-to-join-Asian-Cup-party/79143 |publisher=footballaustralia.com.au |access-date=18 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129061217/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/27-more-cities-keen-to-join-Asian-Cup-party/79143 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The teams trained and resided in these locations throughout the tournament, travelling to games staged away from their bases.<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 Asian Cup |url=http://www.nswtaxi.org.au/sites/default/files/20141109%20-%20MED%20-%20Stakeholder%20update.pdf |publisher=nswtaxi.org.au |access-date=25 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930080823/http://www.nswtaxi.org.au/sites/default/files/20141109%20-%20MED%20-%20Stakeholder%20update.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center; border-right:none; border-bottom:none;"
|-
!Team !!Arrival !!Last match !!Base camp !!Group stage venues !!QF venues !!SF venues !!Final venue
|-
|align=left|{{fb|AUS}}||{{dts|29 December}}||{{dts|31 January}}|||[[Melbourne]]||Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane||Brisbane||Newcastle||Sydney
|-
|align=left|{{fb|BHR}}||{{dts|22 December}}||{{dts|19 January}}||[[Ballarat]]||Melbourne, Canberra & Sydney||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|CHN}}||{{dts|29 December}}||{{dts|22 January}}||[[Sydney]]||Brisbane & Canberra||Brisbane||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|IRN}}||{{dts|31 December}}||{{dts|23 January}}||[[Sydney]]||Melbourne, Sydney & Brisbane||Canberra||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|IRQ}}||{{dts|1 January}}||{{dts|30 January}}||[[Canberra]]||Brisbane & Canberra||Canberra||Sydney||Newcastle
|-
|align=left|{{fb|JPN}}||{{dts|3 January}}||{{dts|23 January}}||[[Cessnock, New South Wales|Cessnock]]||Newcastle, Brisbane & Melbourne||Sydney||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|JOR}}||{{dts|23 December}}||{{dts|20 January}}||[[Melbourne]]||Brisbane & Melbourne||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|KUW}}||{{dts|18 December}}||{{dts|17 January}}||[[Queanbeyan]]||Melbourne, Canberra & Newcastle||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|PRK}}||{{dts|15 December}}||{{dts|18 January}}||[[Canberra]]||Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|OMA}}||{{dts|28 December}}||{{dts|17 January}}||[[Sydney]]||Canberra, Sydney & Newcastle||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|PLE}}||{{dts|2 January}}||{{dts|20 January}}||[[Brisbane]]||Newcastle, Melbourne & Canberra||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|QAT}}||{{dts|28 December}}||{{dts|19 January}}||[[Canberra]]||Canberra & Sydney||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|KSA}}||{{dts|26 December}}||{{dts|18 January}}||[[Brisbane]]||Brisbane & Melbourne||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|-
|align=left|{{fb|KOR}}||{{dts|27 December}}||{{dts|31 January}}||[[Brisbane]]||Canberra & Brisbane||Melbourne||Sydney||Sydney
|-
|align=left|{{fb|UAE}}||{{dts|26 December}}||{{dts|30 January}}||[[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]]||Canberra & Brisbane||Sydney||Newcastle||Newcastle
|-
|align=left|{{fb|UZB}}||{{dts|3 January}}||{{dts|22 January}}||[[Melbourne]]||Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne||Melbourne||{{N/A}}||{{N/A}}
|}

==Match ball==
{{Main|Nike Ordem 2}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:2015 AFC Asian Cup Official Match Ball.jpg|thumb|Nike Ordem 2, the official match ball of the tournament]] -->

The [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] Ordem 2 was announced as the official 2015 Asian Cup match ball on 1 October 2014. The ball features the traditional colors of the tournament. The mainly white ball has a distinctive design with a mainly red graphic pattern and yellow details for better visibility. It shows the official 2015 AFC Asian Cup logo as well as a black [[Swoosh]]. The ball provided a design for real flight, accuracy and control, and features Nike Aerowtrac grooves and a micro-textured casing. Nike RaDaR (Rapid Decision and Response) technology with a unique graphic upper is also utilised in the design to see the ball faster while the three-layer synthetic upper made for optimal touch.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nike 2015 AFC Asian Cup Ball Unveiled |url=http://www.footyheadlines.com/2014/11/nike-2015-afc-asian-cup-ball.html |publisher=footyheadlines.com |access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref>

Ordem 2 was the Asian Cup's last match ball provided by Nike. 

==Match officials==
On 1 January 2015, the AFC named 47 match officials for the tournament, including [[Referee (association football)|referees]], [[Assistant referee (association football)|assistant referees]], fourth officials, and reserve assistant referees. Each main refereeing team (of which there were eleven) consisted of three match officials from the same country: one referee and two assistant referees.<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 AFC Asian Cup (Australia) - selected officials |date=January 2015 |url=http://refereesfifa.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/2015-afc-asian-cup-australia-selected.html |publisher=refereesfifa.com.au |access-date=2 January 2015}}</ref> The AFC decided three match officials from [[New Zealand]] would take part in the tournament, despite the country being in the [[Oceania Football Confederation]]. Match officials based together in Sydney, during the Asian Cup, where they trained together, had technical meetings, conduct match reviews and previews, and only split when attending appointments at the five Asian Cup stadiums in Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and Melbourne.<ref name=referee>{{cite web|title=Asian Cup 2015: A-League could have full-time match officials as early as 2017|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/asian-cup/asian-cup-2015-a-league-could-have-full-time-match-officials-as-early-as-2017/story-e6frf4fu-1227192284440|publisher=foxsports.com.au|access-date=23 January 2015}}</ref> Australian referee [[Chris Beath]], who was a fourth official before the start of the tournament, was promoted for one match when Uzbek referee Valentin Kovalenko had to withdraw due to illness.<ref name=referee/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Referee
! Assistant referees
|-
| {{AUS}}
| [[Ben Williams (referee)|Ben Williams]]
| [[Matthew Cream]]<br />Paul Cetrangolo
|-
| {{BHR}}
| [[Nawaf Shukralla]]
| Yaser Tulefat<br />Ebrahim Saleh
|-
| {{IRN}}
| [[Alireza Faghani]]
| Reza Sokhandan<br />Mohammad Reza Abolfazli
|-
| {{JPN}}
| [[Ryuji Sato]]
| Toru Sagara<br />Toshiyuki Nagi
|-
| {{NZL}}
| [[Peter O'Leary (referee)|Peter O'Leary]]
| Jan-Hendrik Hintz<br />Mark Rule
|-
| {{OMA}}
| [[Abdullah Al Hilali]]
| Hamad Al-Mayahi<br />Abu Bakar Al Amri
|-
| {{QAT}}
| [[Abdulrahman Abdou]]
| Taleb Al-Marri<br />Ramzan Al-Naemi
|-
| {{KSA}}
| [[Fahad Al-Mirdasi]]
| Badr Al-Shumrani<br />Abdulla Al Shalwai
|-
| {{KOR}}
| [[Kim Jong-hyeok]]
| Jeong Hae-Sang<br />Yoon Kwang-Yeol
|-
| {{UAE}}
| [[Abdulla Hassan Mohamed]]
| Mohamed Al Hammadi<br />Hasan Al Mahri
|-
| {{UZB}}
| [[Ravshan Irmatov]]
| [[Abdukhamidullo Rasulov]]<br />Bakhadyr Kochkarov ({{KGZ}})
|}

Six match officials, who served as fourth officials, and eight reserve assistant referees, who served as fifth officials, were also named:

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Fourth official
|-
| {{AUS}}
| [[Chris Beath]]
|-
| {{JPN}}
| [[Yudai Yamamoto]]
|-
| {{MAS}}
| [[Mohd Amirul Izwan Bin Yaacob|Mohd Amirul Izwan]]
|-
| {{SIN}}
| [[Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari Bin Jahari|Muhammad Taqi Aljaafari]]
|-
| {{SRI}}
| [[Hettikamkanamge Perera]]
|-
| {{UAE}}
| [[Ammar Al-Jeneibi]]
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country
! Reserve assistant referees
|-
| {{HKG}}
| Chow Chun Kit
|-
| {{IRQ}}
| Najah Raham Rashid
|-
| {{JPN}}
| Akane Yagi
|-
| rowspan=2|{{MAS}}
| Mohd Yusri Muhamad
|-
| Azman Ismail
|-
| {{SIN}}
| Jeffrey Goh
|-
| {{SRI}}
| Palitha Hemathunga
|-
| {{UZB}}
| Jakhongir Saidov
|}
{{col-end}}

==Squads==
{{Main|2015 AFC Asian Cup squads}}

As with the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011 tournament]], each team's squad consisted of 23 players (three of whom had to be goalkeepers). Each participating national association had to confirm their final 23-player squad no later than ten days before the start of the tournament.<ref name="regulations">{{cite web|url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/i/AsianCup/img/pdfs/2015_Competition_Regulations.pdf |title=Competition Regulations – AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527214302/http://www.afcasiancup.com/i/AsianCup/img/pdfs/2015_Competition_Regulations.pdf |archive-date=27 May 2014 }}</ref> Teams were permitted to make late replacements in the event of serious injury, at any time up to 6 hours before their first game. During a match, all remaining squad members not named in the starting team were available to be one of the three permitted substitutions (provided the player was not serving a suspension).

==Group stage==
The group stage of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup took place from 9–20 January 2015: each team played three games, with the winners and runners-up from each group advancing to the knockout stage. The group stage was notable for finishing without a draw. In doing so, it became the first major international football tournament since the [[1930 FIFA World Cup]] to record a result for every group stage match. Additionally, it surpassed the record of consecutive results at a tournament – 18 – also set at the 1930 World Cup.<ref name="nodraws">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/asiancup/news/newsid/250/862/8/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121025642/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/asiancup/news/newsid/250/862/8/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 January 2015 |title=Wins, losses but no draws as Asian Cup hits record |publisher=FIFA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-01-20 |title=Wins, losses but no draws as Asian Cup hits record |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/football/2015/01/20/wins-losses-but-no-draws-as-asian-cup-hits-record |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=Daily Sabah |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Will |title=Asian Cup Breaks Record for Most Matches Without a Draw |url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/asian-cup-breaks-record-for-most-matches-without-a-draw-1421653707 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{anchor|Tiebreakers}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! Tiebreaking criteria for group stage
|-
|The teams were ranked according to [[Three points for a win|points]] (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:<ref name="regulations" />
#Greater number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned
#[[Goal difference]] resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned
#Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned
#Goal difference in all the group matches
#Greater number of goals scored in all the group matches
#[[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|Penalty shoot-out]] if only two teams are involved, and they are both on the field of play
#Lower score calculated according to the number of [[Penalty card|yellow and red cards]] received in the group matches (1 point for a single yellow card, 3 points for a red card as a consequence of two yellow cards, 3 points for a direct red card, 4 points for a yellow card followed by a direct red card)
#Drawing of lots
|}

===Group A===
[[File:2015 AFC Asian Cup opening match Australia Kuwait, 9 January 2015 (6).jpg|thumb|Opening match, [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] vs [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]]]]

{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A}}
{{:2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}
{{Football box
|date=9 January 2015
|time=20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|AUS}}
|score=4–1
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8239&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|KUW}}
|goals1=
* [[Tim Cahill|Cahill]] {{goal|33}}
* [[Massimo Luongo|Luongo]] {{goal|45}}
* [[Mile Jedinak|Jedinak]] {{goal|62|pen.}}
* [[James Troisi|Troisi]] {{goal|90+2}}
|goals2=
* [[Hussain Fadhel|Fadhel]] {{goal|8}}
|stadium=[[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]], [[Melbourne]]
|attendance=25,231
|referee=[[Ravshan Irmatov]] ([[Uzbekistan Football Federation|Uzbekistan]])
}}

{{Football box
|date=10 January 2015
|time=16:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|KOR}}
|score=1–0
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8240&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|OMA}}
|goals1=
* [[Cho Young-cheol]] {{goal|45+1}}
|goals2=
|stadium=[[Canberra Stadium]], [[Canberra]]
|attendance=12,552
|referee=[[Peter O'Leary (referee)|Peter O'Leary]] ([[New Zealand Football|New&nbsp;Zealand]])
}}
----
{{Football box
|date=13 January 2015
|time=18:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|KUW}}
|score=0–1
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8241&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|KOR}}
|goals1=
|goals2=
* [[Nam Tae-hee]] {{goal|36}}
|stadium=[[Canberra Stadium]], [[Canberra]]
|attendance=8,795
|referee=[[Alireza Faghani]] ([[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|Iran]])
}}

{{Football box
|date=13 January 2015
|time=20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|OMA}}
|score=0–4
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8242&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|AUS}}
|goals1=
|goals2=
* [[Matt McKay|McKay]] {{goal|27}}
* [[Robbie Kruse|Kruse]] {{goal|30}}
* [[Mark Milligan|Milligan]] {{goal|45+2|pen.}}
* [[Tomi Juric|Jurić]] {{goal|70}}
|stadium=[[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]]
|attendance=50,276
|referee=[[Ryuji Sato]] ([[Japan Football Association|Japan]])
}}
----
{{Football box
|date=17 January 2015
|time=19:00 [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]] ([[UTC+10:00|UTC+10]])
|team1={{fb-rt|AUS}}
|score=0–1
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8243&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|KOR}}
|goals1=
|goals2=
* [[Lee Jung-hyup]] {{goal|33}}
|stadium=[[Lang Park|Brisbane Stadium]], [[Brisbane]]
|attendance=48,513
|referee=[[Nawaf Shukralla]] ([[Bahrain Football Association|Bahrain]])
}}

{{Football box
|date=17 January 2015
|time=20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|OMA}}
|score=1–0
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8244&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|KUW}}
|goals1=
* [[Abdulaziz Al-Muqbali|Al-Muqbali]] {{goal|69}}
|goals2=
|stadium=[[Newcastle International Sports Centre|Newcastle Stadium]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]
|attendance=7,499
|referee=[[Fahad Al-Mirdasi]] ([[Saudi Arabian Football Federation|Saudi&nbsp;Arabia]])
}}

===Group B===
{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B}}
{{:2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}
{{Football box
| date       = 10 January 2015
| time       = 18:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|UZB}}
| score      = 1–0
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8245&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|PRK}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Igor Sergeev (footballer, born 1993)|Sergeev]] {{goal|62}}
| goals2     = 
| stadium    = [[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]]
| attendance = 12,078
| referee    = [[Nawaf Shukralla]] ([[Bahrain Football Association|Bahrain]])
}}

{{Football box
| date       = 10 January 2015
| time       = 19:00 [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]] ([[UTC+10:00|UTC+10]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|KSA}}
| score      = 0–1
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8246&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|CHN}}
| goals1     = 
| goals2     = 
* [[Yu Hai]] {{goal|81}}
| stadium    = [[Lang Park|Brisbane Stadium]], [[Brisbane]]
| attendance = 12,557
| referee    = [[Alireza Faghani]] ([[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|Iran]])
}}
----
{{Football box
| date       = 14 January 2015
| time       = 18:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|PRK}}
| score      = 1–4
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8247&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|KSA}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Ryang Yong-gi]] {{goal|12}}
| goals2     = 
* [[Naif Hazazi|Hazazi]] {{goal|37}}
* [[Mohammad Al-Sahlawi|Al-Sahlawi]] {{goal|52||54}}
* [[Nawaf Al Abed|Al Abed]] {{goal|76}}
| stadium    = [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]], [[Melbourne]]
| attendance = 12,349
| referee    = [[Abdullah Al Hilali]] ([[Oman Football Association|Oman]])
}}

{{Football box
| date       = 14 January 2015
| time       = 19:00 [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]] ([[UTC+10:00|UTC+10]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|CHN}}
| score      = 2–1
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8248&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|UZB}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Wu Xi (footballer)|Wu Xi]] {{goal|54}}
* [[Sun Ke (footballer)|Sun Ke]] {{goal|68}}
| goals2     = 
* [[Odil Ahmedov|Ahmedov]] {{goal|23}}
| stadium    = [[Lang Park|Brisbane Stadium]], [[Brisbane]]
| attendance = 13,674
| referee    = [[Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed]] ([[United Arab Emirates Football Association|United&nbsp;Arab&nbsp;Emirates]])
}}
----
{{Football box
| date       = 18 January 2015
| time       = 20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|UZB}}
| score      = 3–1
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8249&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|KSA}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Sardor Rashidov|Rashidov]] {{goal|2||78}}
* [[Vokhid Shodiev|Shodiev]] {{goal|71}}
| goals2     = 
* [[Mohammad Al-Sahlawi|Al-Sahlawi]] {{goal|60|pen.}}
| stadium    = [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]], [[Melbourne]]
| attendance = 10,871
| referee    = [[Ben Williams (referee)|Ben Williams]] ([[Football Federation Australia|Australia]])
}}

{{Football box
| date       = 18 January 2015
| time       = 20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|CHN}}
| score      = 2–1
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8250&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|PRK}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Sun Ke (footballer)|Sun Ke]] {{goal|1||42}}
| goals2     = 
* [[Gao Lin]] {{goal|57|o.g.}}
| stadium    = [[Canberra Stadium]], [[Canberra]]
| attendance = 18,457
| referee    = [[Abdulrahman Abdou]] ([[Qatar Football Association|Qatar]])
}}

===Group C===
[[File:AAMI Park 2015 AFC Asian Cup Iran v Bahrain.jpg|thumb|[[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]] during the [[Iran national football team|Iran]] vs [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] match]]

{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C}}
{{:2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}
{{Football box
| date       = 11 January 2015
| time       = 18:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|UAE}}
| score      = 4–1
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8252&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|QAT}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Ahmed Khalil|Khalil]] {{goal|37||52}}
* [[Ali Mabkhout|Mabkhout]] {{goal|56||90}}
| goals2     = 
* [[Khalfan Ibrahim|Ibrahim]] {{goal|23}}
| stadium    = [[Canberra Stadium]], [[Canberra]]
| attendance = 5,513
| referee    = [[Kim Jong-hyeok]] ([[Korea Football Association|South&nbsp;Korea]])
}}

{{Football box
| date       = 11 January 2015
| time       = 20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|IRN}}
| score      = 2–0
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8251&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|BHR}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Ehsan Hajsafi|Hajsafi]] {{goal|45+1}}
* [[Masoud Shojaei|Shojaei]] {{goal|71}}
| goals2     = 
| stadium    = [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]], [[Melbourne]]
| attendance = 17,712
| referee    = [[Ben Williams (referee)|Ben Williams]] ([[Football Federation Australia|Australia]])
}}
----
{{Football box
| date       = 15 January 2015
| time       = 18:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|BHR}}
| score      = 1–2
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8253&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|UAE}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Jaycee John Okwunwanne|Okwunwanne]] {{goal|26}}
| goals2     = 
* [[Ali Mabkhout|Mabkhout]] {{goal|1}}
* [[Mohamed Husain|Husain]] {{goal|74|o.g.}}
| stadium    = [[Canberra Stadium]], [[Canberra]]
| attendance = 7,925
| referee    = [[Chris Beath]] ([[Football Federation Australia|Australia]])
}}

{{Football box
| date       = 15 January 2015
| time       = 20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|QAT}}
| score      = 0–1
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8254&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|IRN}}
| goals1     = 
| goals2     = 
* [[Sardar Azmoun|Azmoun]] {{goal|52}}
| stadium    = [[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]]
| attendance = 22,672
| referee    = [[Ravshan Irmatov]] ([[Uzbekistan Football Federation|Uzbekistan]])
}}
----
{{Football box
| date       = 19 January 2015
| time       = 19:00 [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]] ([[UTC+10:00|UTC+10]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|IRN}}
| score      = 1–0
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8255&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|UAE}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Reza Ghoochannejhad|Ghoochannejhad]] {{goal|90+1}}
| goals2     = 
| stadium    = [[Lang Park|Brisbane Stadium]], [[Brisbane]]
| attendance = 11,394
| referee    = [[Ryuji Sato]] ([[Japan Football Association|Japan]])
}}

{{Football box
| date       = 19 January 2015
| time       = 20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|QAT}}
| score      = 1–2
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8256&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|BHR}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Hassan Al-Haydos|Al-Haydos]] {{goal|68}}
| goals2     = 
* [[Sayed Saeed|Saeed]] {{goal|34}}
* [[Sayed Jaafar Ahmed|Ahmed]] {{goal|82}}
| stadium    = [[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]]
| attendance = 4,841
| referee    = [[Abdullah Al Hilali]] ([[Oman Football Association|Oman]])
}}

===Group D===
{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D}}
{{:2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|only_pld_pts=no_hide_class_rules}}
{{Football box
| date       = 12 January 2015
| time       = 18:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|JPN}}
| score      = 4–0
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8257&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|PLE}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Yasuhito Endō|Endō]] {{goal|8}}
* [[Shinji Okazaki|Okazaki]] {{goal|25}}
* [[Keisuke Honda|Honda]] {{goal|43|pen.}}
* [[Maya Yoshida|Yoshida]] {{goal|49}}
| goals2     = 
| stadium    = [[Newcastle International Sports Centre|Newcastle Stadium]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]
| attendance = 17,147
| referee    = [[Abdulrahman Abdou]] ([[Qatar Football Association|Qatar]])
}}

{{Football box
| date = 12 January 2015
| time = 19:00 [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]] ([[UTC+10:00|UTC+10]])
| team1 = {{fb-rt|JOR}}
| score = 0–1
| report = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8258&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2 = {{fb|IRQ}}
| goals1 = 
| goals2 = * [[Yaser Kasim|Kasim]] {{goal|77}}
| stadium = [[Lang Park|Brisbane Stadium]], [[Brisbane]]
| attendance = 6,840
| referee = [[Fahad Al-Mirdasi]] ([[Saudi Arabian Football Federation|Saudi&nbsp;Arabia]])
}}
----
{{Football box
| date       = 16 January 2015
| time       = 18:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|PLE}}
| score      = 1–5
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8259&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|JOR}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Jaka Ihbeisheh|Ihbeisheh]] {{goal|84}}
| goals2     = 
* [[Yousef Al-Rawashdeh|Al-Rawashdeh]] {{goal|32}}
* [[Hamza Al-Dardour|Al-Dardour]] {{goal|34||45+2||75||79}}
| stadium    = [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]], [[Melbourne]]
| attendance = 10,808
| referee    = [[Kim Jong-hyeok]] ([[Korea Football Association|South&nbsp;Korea]])
}}

{{Football box
| date       = 16 January 2015
| time       = 19:00 [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]] ([[UTC+10:00|UTC+10]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|IRQ}}
| score      = 0–1
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8260&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|JPN}}
| goals1     = 
| goals2     = 
* [[Keisuke Honda|Honda]] {{goal|23|pen.}}
| stadium    = [[Lang Park|Brisbane Stadium]], [[Brisbane]]
| attendance = 22,941
| referee    = [[Alireza Faghani]] ([[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|Iran]])
}}
----
{{Football box
| date       = 20 January 2015
| time       = 20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|JPN}}
| score      = 2–0
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8261&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|JOR}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Keisuke Honda|Honda]] {{goal|24}}
* [[Shinji Kagawa|Kagawa]] {{goal|82}}
| goals2     = 
| stadium    = [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]], [[Melbourne]]
| attendance = 25,016
| referee    = [[Ravshan Irmatov]] ([[Uzbekistan Football Federation|Uzbekistan]])
}}

{{Football box
| date       = 20 January 2015
| time       = 20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
| team1      = {{fb-rt|IRQ}}
| score      = 2–0
| report     = [http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8262&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
| team2      = {{fb|PLE}}
| goals1     = 
* [[Younis Mahmoud|Mahmoud]] {{goal|48}}
* [[Ahmed Yasin Ghani|Yasin]] {{goal|88}}
| goals2     = 
| stadium    = [[Canberra Stadium]], [[Canberra]]
| attendance = 10,235
| referee    = [[Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed]] ([[United Arab Emirates Football Association|United&nbsp;Arab&nbsp;Emirates]])
}}

==Knockout stage==
{{main|2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage}}
[[File:Hunter Stadium Day.JPG|thumb|right|Newcastle Stadium prior the semi-final between [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] and the [[United Arab Emirates national football team|UAE]].]]
In all matches in the knockout stage, if the score were level at the end of 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods of [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|extra time]] would take place. If the score were still level after extra time, the match was decided by a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]].<ref name="regulations"/>
Scores after [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|extra time]] are indicated by (a.e.t.), and [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]] are indicated by (pen.).

<onlyinclude>{{#invoke:RoundN |main |columns=3
|widescore=yes |bold_winner=high |3rdplace=yes
|RD1=[[#Quarter-finals|Quarter-finals]]
|RD2=[[#Semi-finals|Semi-finals]]
|RD3=[[#Final|Final]]
|Consol=[[#Third place match|Third place]]
<!--Date-Place/Team 1/Score 1/Team 2/Score 2 -->
<!-- quarter finals -->
|22 January – [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium|Melbourne]] |{{fb|KOR}} {{aet}}|2 |{{fb|UZB}} |0
|23 January – [[Canberra Stadium|Canberra]] |{{fb|IRN}} |3 (6)|{{fb|IRQ}} {{pen.}}|3 (7)
|22 January – [[Lang Park|Brisbane]] |{{fb|CHN}} |0 |{{fb|AUS}} |2
|23 January – [[Stadium Australia|Sydney]] |{{fb|JPN}} |1 (4) |{{nowrap|{{fb|UAE}} {{pen.}}}}|1 (5)
<!--semi-finals -->
|26 January – [[Stadium Australia|Sydney]] |{{fb|KOR}} |2 |{{fb|IRQ}} |0
|27 January – [[Newcastle International Sports Centre|Newcastle]] |{{fb|AUS}} |2 |{{nowrap|{{fb|UAE}}}} |0
<!--final -->
|31 January – [[Stadium Australia|Sydney]] |{{fb|KOR}} |1 |{{fb|AUS}} {{aet}}|2
<!--third place -->
|30 January – [[Newcastle International Sports Centre|Newcastle]] |{{fb|IRQ}} |2 |{{nowrap|{{fb|UAE}}}}|3
}}</onlyinclude>

===Quarter-finals===
With a 2–0 victory over Uzbekistan in [[Overtime (sports)#Association football|extra time]], South Korea set a tournament record for appearing in ten semi-finals. The host country, Australia, reached the final four for the second consecutive time after overcoming China PR by the same score. Iran were eliminated for the third consecutive time in an Asian Cup quarter-final after Iraq defeated Iran in a penalty shootout. The match had ended 3–3 after extra time, not before a [[Fouls and misconduct (association football)#Red card (dismissal)|sending off]] which reduced the Iranians to 10 men late in the first half. The United Arab Emirates eliminated reigning champions Japan through a penalty shoot-out following a 1–1 draw at the end of extra time, marking Japan's worst finish since [[1996 AFC Asian Cup|1996]].

{{Football box
|date=22 January 2015
|time=18:30 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|KOR}}
|score=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#South Korea vs Uzbekistan|2–0]]
|aet=yes
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8263&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|UZB}}
|goals1=[[Son Heung-min]] {{goal|104||119}}
|goals2=
|stadium=[[AAMI Park]], [[Melbourne]]
|attendance=23,381
|referee=[[Fahad Al-Mirdasi]] ([[Saudi Arabian Football Federation|Saudi&nbsp;Arabia]])
}}
----
{{Football box
|date=22 January 2015
|time=20:30 [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]] ([[UTC+10:00|UTC+10]])
|team1={{fb-rt|CHN}}
|score=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#China PR vs Australia|0–2]]
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8264&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|AUS}}
|goals1=
|goals2=[[Tim Cahill|Cahill]] {{goal|48||65}}
|stadium=[[Lang Park|Brisbane Stadium]], [[Brisbane]]
|attendance=46,067
|referee=[[Kim Jong-hyeok]] ([[Korea Football Association|South&nbsp;Korea]])
}}
----
{{Football box
|date=23 January 2015
|time=17:30 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|IRN}}
|score=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#Iran vs Iraq|3–3]]
|aet=yes
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8265&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|IRQ}}
|goals1=[[Sardar Azmoun|Azmoun]] {{goal|24}}<br />[[Morteza Pouraliganji|Pouraliganji]] {{goal|103}}<br />[[Reza Ghoochannejhad|Ghoochannejhad]] {{goal|119}}
|goals2=[[Ahmed Yasin Ghani|Yasin]] {{goal|56}}<br />[[Younis Mahmoud|Mahmoud]] {{goal|93}}<br />[[Dhurgham Ismail|Ismail]] {{goal|116|pen.}}
|stadium=[[Canberra Stadium]], [[Canberra]]
|attendance=18,921
|referee=[[Ben Williams (referee)|Ben Williams]] ([[Football Federation Australia|Australia]])
|penalties1=[[Ehsan Hajsafi|Hajsafi]] {{penmiss}}<br />[[Morteza Pouraliganji|Pouraliganji]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Javad Nekounam|Nekounam]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Jalal Hosseini|Hosseini]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Vouria Ghafouri|Ghafouri]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Alireza Jahanbakhsh|Jahanbakhsh]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Andranik Teymourian|Teymourian]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Vahid Amiri|Amiri]] {{penmiss}}
|penaltyscore=6–7
|penalties2={{penmiss}} [[Saad Abdul-Amir|Abdul-Amir]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Waleed Salem Al-Lami|Salem]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Dhurgham Ismail|Ismail]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Ali Adnan Kadhim|Adnan]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Younis Mahmoud|Mahmoud]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Yaser Kasim|Kasim]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Marwan Hussein|Hussein]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Salam Shaker|Shaker]]
}}
----
{{Football box
|date=23 January 2015
|time=20:30 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|JPN}}
|score=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#Japan vs United Arab Emirates|1–1]]
|aet=yes
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8266&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|UAE}}
|goals1=[[Gaku Shibasaki|Shibasaki]] {{goal|81}}
|goals2=[[Ali Mabkhout|Mabkhout]] {{goal|7}}
|stadium=[[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]]
|attendance=19,094
|referee=[[Alireza Faghani]] ([[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|Iran]])
|penalties1=[[Keisuke Honda|Honda]] {{penmiss}}<br />[[Makoto Hasebe|Hasebe]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Gaku Shibasaki|Shibasaki]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Yohei Toyoda|Toyoda]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Masato Morishige|Morishige]] {{pengoal}}<br />[[Shinji Kagawa|Kagawa]] {{penmiss}}
|penaltyscore=4–5
|penalties2={{pengoal}} [[Omar Abdulrahman|O. Abdulrahman]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Ali Mabkhout|Mabkhout]]<br />{{penmiss}} [[Khamis Esmaeel|Esmaeel]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Majed Hassan|Hassan]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Habib Fardan|Fardan]]<br />{{pengoal}} [[Mohamed Ismail Ahmed Ismail|I. Ahmed]]
}}

===Semi-finals===
South Korea reached their first final since 1988, after overcoming Iraq 2–0. With a 2–0 victory against the United Arab Emirates, Australia qualified for their second consecutive final out of only three appearances in the Asian Cup since moving to the [[Asian Football Confederation]] from the [[Oceania Football Confederation]] in 2006.

{{Football box
|date=26 January 2015
|time=20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|KOR}}
|score=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#South Korea vs Iraq|2–0]]
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8267&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|IRQ}}
|goals1=[[Lee Jung-hyup]] {{goal|20}}<br />[[Kim Young-gwon]] {{goal|50}}
|goals2=
|stadium=[[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]]
|attendance=36,053
|referee=[[Ryuji Sato]] ([[Japan Football Association|Japan]])
}}
----
{{Football box
|date=27 January 2015
|time=20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|AUS}}
|score=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#Australia vs United Arab Emirates|2–0]]
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8268&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|UAE}}
|goals1=[[Trent Sainsbury|Sainsbury]] {{goal|3}} <br /> [[Jason Davidson|Davidson]] {{goal|14}}
|goals2=
|stadium=[[Newcastle International Sports Centre|Newcastle Stadium]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]
|attendance=21,079
|referee=[[Ravshan Irmatov]] ([[Uzbekistan Football Federation|Uzbekistan]])
}}

===Third place match===
This was both Iraq's and the United Arab Emirates' second appearances in a third place playoff at the AFC Asian Cup, with the teams contesting in [[1976 AFC Asian Cup|1976]] and [[1992 AFC Asian Cup|1992]] respectively. The United Arab Emirates won the match 3–2 and finished in third-place for the first time.

{{Football box
|date=30 January 2015
|time=20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|IRQ}}
|score=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#Third place match|2–3]]
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8269&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|UAE}}
|goals1=[[Waleed Salim Al-Lami|Salim]] {{goal|28}} <br /> [[Amjad Kalaf|Kalaf]] {{goal|42}}
|goals2=[[Ahmed Khalil|Khalil]] {{goal|16||51}} <br /> [[Ali Mabkhout|Mabkhout]] {{goal|57|pen.}}
|stadium=[[Newcastle International Sports Centre|Newcastle Stadium]], [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]]
|attendance=12,829
|referee=[[Nawaf Shukralla]] ([[Bahrain Football Association|Bahrain]])
}}

===Final===
{{Main|2015 AFC Asian Cup Final}}
South Korea entered the match looking for their third Asian Cup title, whereas Australia attempted to win their first. After a late goal by Australia in the first half and another late goal by South Korea in the second half, the match was taken into extra time. Australia eventually won the match 2–1.

{{Football box
|date=31 January 2015
|time=20:00 [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]] ([[UTC+11:00|UTC+11]])
|team1={{fb-rt|KOR}}
|score=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Final|1–2]]
|aet=yes
|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8270&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]
|team2={{fb|AUS}}
|goals1=[[Son Heung-min]] {{goal|90+1}}
|goals2=[[Massimo Luongo|Luongo]] {{goal|45}} <br /> [[James Troisi|Troisi]] {{goal|105}}
|stadium=[[Stadium Australia]], [[Sydney]]
|attendance=76,385
|referee=[[Alireza Faghani]] ([[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|Iran]])
}}

==Statistics==
{{See also|AFC Asian Cup records and statistics}}

===Goalscorers===

Ali Mabkhout of the United Arab Emirates received the Golden Boot award for scoring five goals. In total, 85 goals were scored by 57 different players, with two of them credited as own goals.

;5 goals
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Ali Mabkhout]]
{{div col end}}

;4 goals
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Hamza Al-Dardour]]
*{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Ahmed Khalil]]
{{div col end}}

;3 goals
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Tim Cahill]]
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Sun Ke (footballer)|Sun Ke]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Keisuke Honda]]
*{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Mohammad Al-Sahlawi]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Son Heung-min]]
{{div col end}}

;2 goals
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Massimo Luongo]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[James Troisi]]
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Sardar Azmoun]]
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Reza Ghoochannejhad]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Younis Mahmoud]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ahmed Yasin Ghani|Ahmed Yasin]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Jung-hyup]]
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Sardor Rashidov]]
{{div col end}}

;1 goal
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jason Davidson]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mile Jedinak]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Tomi Juric]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Robbie Kruse]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Matt McKay]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Milligan]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Trent Sainsbury]]
*{{flagicon|BHR}} [[Sayed Jaafar Ahmed]]
*{{flagicon|BHR}} [[Jaycee John Okwunwanne]]
*{{flagicon|BHR}} [[Sayed Saeed]]
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Wu Xi (footballer)|Wu Xi]]
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Yu Hai]]
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Ehsan Hajsafi]]
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Morteza Pouraliganji]]
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Masoud Shojaei]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Dhurgham Ismail]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Amjad Kalaf]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Yaser Kasim]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Waleed Salem Al-Lami|Waleed Salem]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yasuhito Endō]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shinji Kagawa]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shinji Okazaki]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Gaku Shibasaki]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Maya Yoshida]]
*{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Yousef Al-Rawashdeh]]
*{{flagicon|KUW}} [[Hussain Fadhel]]
*{{flagicon|PRK}} [[Ryang Yong-gi]]
*{{flagicon|OMN}} [[Abdulaziz Al-Muqbali]]
*{{flagicon|PLE}} [[Jaka Ihbeisheh]]
*{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Hassan Al-Haydos]]
*{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Khalfan Ibrahim]]
*{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Nawaf Al Abed]]
*{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Naif Hazazi]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Cho Young-cheol]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Young-gwon]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Nam Tae-hee]]
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Odil Ahmedov]]
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Igor Sergeyev (Uzbekistani footballer)|Igor Sergeev]]
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Vokhid Shodiev]]
{{div col end}}

;1 own goal
*{{flagicon|BHR}} [[Mohamed Husain]] (against United Arab Emirates)
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Gao Lin]] (against North Korea)

===Assists===
;4 assists
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Massimo Luongo]]
*{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Omar Abdulrahman]]
{{div col end}}

;3 assists
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|BHN}} [[Faouzi Aaish]]
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Andranik Teymourian]]
{{div col end}}

;2 assists
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ivan Franjic]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Alaa Abdul-Zahra]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shinji Kagawa]]
*{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Abdallah Deeb]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Cha Du-ri]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Jin-su]]
*{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Amer Abdulrahman]]
{{div col end}}

;1 assist
{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Jason Davidson]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Matthew Leckie]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Trent Sainsbury]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Tomi Juric]]
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Gao Lin]]
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Zheng Zhi]]
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Jiang Zhipeng]]
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Ashkan Dejagah]]
*{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Vouria Ghafouri]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ali Adnan Kadhim|Ali Adnan]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Dhurgham Ismail]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Amjad Kalaf]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Waleed Salem Al-Lami|Waleed Salem]]
*{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ahmed Yasin Ghani|Ahmed Yasin]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Keisuke Honda]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Takashi Inui]]
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yoshinori Muto]]
*{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Hamza Al-Dardour]]
*{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Saeed Murjan]]
*{{flagicon|JOR}} [[Oday Zahran]]
*{{flagicon|KUW}} [[Aziz Mashaan|Abdulaziz Al Misha'an]]
*{{flagicon|OMA}} [[Mohammed Al-Siyabi]]
*{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Nawaf Al Abed]]
*{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Abdullah Al-Zori]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Ki Sung-yueng]] 
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Jung-hyup]]
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Keun-ho (footballer, born 1985)|Lee Keun-ho]]
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Server Djeparov]]
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Jasur Hasanov (footballer, born 1983)|Jasur Hasanov]]
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Timur Kapadze]]
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Shavkat Mullajanov]]
{{div col end}}

===Discipline===
In the final tournament, a player was suspended for the subsequent match in the competition for either getting red card or accumulating two yellow cards in two different matches. The match review panel has the ability to increase the automatic one match ban for a red card (e.g. for violent conduct). Single yellow card cautions were erased at the conclusion of the quarter-finals, and were not carried over to the semi-finals (so that a player could only be suspended for the final by getting a red card in the semi-final). The following players were or are suspended during the final tournament – for one or more games – as a result of red cards or yellow card accumulations:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Player
! Offence
! Suspension
|-
| {{flagicon|KUW}} [[Fahad Awadh]]
| {{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification|qualification]] vs [[Iran national football team|Iran]]<br />{{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification|qualification]] vs [[Iran national football team|Iran]]
| Group A vs [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Cup 2015: Kuwait coach Nabil Maaloul throws pressure on Socceroos for opener |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/asian-cup-2015-kuwait-coach-nabil-maaloul-throws-pressure-on-socceroos-for-opener/story-fni2wcjl-1227178833838l |publisher=heraldsun.com.au |access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|UZB}} [[Islom Tukhtakhodjaev]]
| {{sent off|2}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification|qualification]] vs [[United Arab Emirates national football team|United Arab Emirates]]
| Group B vs [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Defender of Uzbekistan Football team disqualified for 4 games |url=http://news.uzreport.uz/news_10_e_127206.html |publisher=uzreport.uz |access-date=15 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116082602/http://news.uzreport.uz/news_10_e_127206.html |archive-date=16 January 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|PRK}} Ri Sang-chol
| Unsporting conduct towards a match official{{efn|Offence committed in [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's Asian qualifiers Preliminary Round 2|2012 Summer Olympics second round qualification]] vs [[United Arab Emirates national under-23 football team|United Arab Emirates]].}}
| Group B vs [[Uzbekistan national football team|Uzbekistan]]<br />Group B vs [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]]<br />Group B vs [[China PR national football team|China PR]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Asian Cup: Uzbekistan opens with 1-0 win over North Korea|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2015/01/10/asian-cup-uzbekistan-opens-with-1-0-win-over-north-korea/21547391/|publisher=usatoday.com|access-date=14 January 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|KSA}} [[Fahad Al-Muwallad]]
| {{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification|qualification]] vs [[China PR national football team|China PR]]<br />{{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification|qualification]] vs [[Indonesia national football team|Indonesia]]
| Group B vs [[China PR national football team|China PR]]<ref name="Al-Muwallad & Ke">{{cite web|title=AFC Asian Cup 2015: Saudi Arabia v China PR|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8246&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary|publisher=the-afc.com|access-date=16 January 2015}}</ref>
|-
| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Sun Ke (footballer)|Sun Ke]]
| {{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification|qualification]] vs [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]]<br />{{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification|qualification]] vs [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]]
| Group B vs [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]]<ref name="Al-Muwallad & Ke"/>
|-
| {{flagicon|PLE}} [[Ahmed Harbi]]
| {{sent off|2}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|Group D]] vs [[Japan national football team|Japan]]
| Group D vs [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]]
|-
| {{flagicon|JOR}} [[Anas Bani Yaseen]]
| {{sent off|2}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|Group D]] vs [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]]
| Group D vs [[Palestine national football team|Palestine]]
|-
| {{flagicon|PRK}} [[Ri Yong-jik]]
| {{sent off|0}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B|Group B]] vs [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]]
| Group B vs [[China PR national football team|China PR]]
|-
| {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Ren Hang (footballer)|Ren Hang]]
| {{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B|Group B]] vs [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]]<br />{{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B|Group B]] vs [[Uzbekistan national football team|Uzbekistan]]
| Group B vs [[North Korea national football team|North Korea]]
|-
| {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Alaa Abdul-Zahra]]
| {{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|Group D]] vs [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]]<br />{{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|Group D]] vs [[Japan national football team|Japan]]
| Group D vs [[Palestine national football team|Palestine]]
|-
| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Matthew Spiranovic]]
| {{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A|Group A]] vs [[Oman national football team|Oman]]<br />{{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A|Group A]] vs [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]]
| Quarter-final vs [[China PR national football team|China PR]]
|-
| {{flagicon|UAE}} [[Walid Abbas]]
| {{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C|Group C]] vs [[Qatar national football team|Qatar]]<br />{{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C|Group C]] vs [[Iran national football team|Iran]]
| Quarter-final vs [[Japan national football team|Japan]]
|-
| {{flagicon|IRN}} [[Mehrdad Pooladi]]
| {{sent off|2}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#Iran vs Iraq|Quarter-final]] vs [[Iraq national football team|Iraq]]
| [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|World Cup qualifying]] vs [[Turkmenistan national football team|Turkmenistan]]
|-
| {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Yaser Kasim]]
| {{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|Group D]] vs [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]]<br />{{yel}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#Iran vs Iraq|Quarter-final]] vs [[Iran national football team|Iran]]
| Semi-final vs [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]]
|-
| {{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Ahmad Ibrahim Khalaf|Ahmad Ibrahim]]
| {{sent off}} in [[2015 AFC Asian Cup knockout stage#Third place match|Third place match]] vs [[United Arab Emirates national football team|United Arab Emirates]]
| [[2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round|World Cup qualifying]] vs [[Chinese Taipei national football team|Chinese Taipei]]
|}

===Awards===
;Most Valuable Player
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Massimo Luongo]]
;Top Goalscorer
*{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Ali Mabkhout]]
;Best Goalkeeper
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mathew Ryan]]
;Fair Play Award
*{{fb|AUS}}

;Team of the tournament
Four players from both the winning Australian team and the runner-up Korean team were selected in the team of the tournament by the organization committee, while the other players included were from a team which progressed to the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/afcasiancup/status/561811330525433856|title=AC2015 DREAM TEAM|date=1 February 2015|publisher=AFC Asian Cup official twitter|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2015 Asian Cup Dream Team highlighted by Koreans, Australians|date=2 February 2015|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2g7yu0|publisher=dailymotion.com|access-date=9 February 2015}}</ref>

{{football squad on pitch|align=right
|  GK = '''[[Mathew Ryan|Ryan]]'''
|  RB = '''[[Cha Du-Ri|Cha D.R.]]'''
| RCB = '''[[Trent Sainsbury|Sainsbury]]'''
| LCB = '''[[Kwak Tae-hwi|Kwak T.H.]]'''
|  LB = '''[[Dhurgham Ismail|Ismail]]'''
|  RM = '''[[Ki Sung-Yueng|Ki S.Y.]]'''
|  CM = '''[[Omar Abdulrahman|Abdulrahman]]'''
|  LM = '''[[Massimo Luongo|Luongo]]'''
| RF  = '''[[Tim Cahill|Cahill]]'''
| LF  = '''[[Son Heung-Min|Son H.M.]]'''
| CF  = '''[[Ali Mabkhout|Mabkhout]]'''
| caption = 
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Goalkeeper
!Defenders
!Midfielders
!Forwards
|-
|valign=top|
{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mathew Ryan]]
|valign=top|
{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Dhurgham Ismail]]<br />
{{flagicon|ROK}} [[Kwak Tae-hwi]]<br />
{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Trent Sainsbury]]<br />
{{flagicon|ROK}} [[Cha Du-Ri]]
|valign=top|
{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Massimo Luongo]]<br />
{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Omar Abdulrahman]]<br />
{{flagicon|ROK}} [[Ki Sung-Yeung]]
|valign=top|
{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Ali Mabkhout]]<br />
{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Tim Cahill]]<br />
{{flagicon|ROK}} [[Son Heung-Min]]
|}

===Final standings===
{{Fb cl3 header navbar|p=yes|group=yes|no-extras=yes|fs=95}}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=1  |t={{fb|AUS}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A|A]] |no-extras=yes |bc=gold
|w=5 |d=0 |l=1 |gf=14  |ga=3  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=2  |t={{fb|KOR}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A|A]] |no-extras=yes |bc=silver
|w=5 |d=0 |l=1 |gf=8  |ga=2  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=3  |t={{fb|UAE}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C|C]] |no-extras=yes |bc=#c96
|w=3 |d=1 |l=2 |gf=10 |ga=8  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=4  |t={{fb|IRQ}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|D]] |no-extras=yes |bc=
|w=2 |d=1 |l=3 |gf=8  |ga=9  }}
|-
| colspan="11"| '''Eliminated in the quarter-finals'''
|-
{{Fb cl3 team|p=5  |t={{fb|IRN}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C|C]] |no-extras=yes
|w=3 |d=1 |l=0 |gf=7  |ga=3  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=6  |t={{fb|JPN}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|D]] |no-extras=yes
|w=3 |d=1 |l=0 |gf=8  |ga=1  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=7  |t={{fb|CHN}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B|B]] |no-extras=yes
|w=3 |d=0 |l=1 |gf=5  |ga=4  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=8  |t={{fb|UZB}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B|B]] |no-extras=yes
|w=2 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=5  |ga=5  }}
|-
| colspan="11"| '''Eliminated in group stage'''
|-
{{Fb cl3 team|p=9  |t={{fb|JOR}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|D]] |no-extras=yes
|w=1 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=5  |ga=4  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=10 |t={{fb|KSA}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B|B]] |no-extras=yes
|w=1 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=5  |ga=5  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=11 |t={{fb|BHR}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C|C]] |no-extras=yes
|w=1 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=3  |ga=5  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=12 |t={{fb|OMA}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A|A]] |no-extras=yes
|w=1 |d=0 |l=2 |gf=1  |ga=5  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=13 |t={{fb|QAT}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C|C]] |no-extras=yes
|w=0 |d=0 |l=3 |gf=2  |ga=7  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=14 |t={{fb|PRK}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group B|B]] |no-extras=yes
|w=0 |d=0 |l=3 |gf=2  |ga=7  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=15 |t={{fb|KUW}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group A|A]] |no-extras=yes
|w=0 |d=0 |l=3 |gf=1  |ga=6  }}
{{Fb cl3 team|p=16 |t={{fb|PLE}} |gr=[[2015 AFC Asian Cup Group D|D]] |no-extras=yes
|w=0 |d=0 |l=3 |gf=1  |ga=11 }}
|}
<small>Source: [https://assets.the-afc.com/migration/a/f/afc-asian-cup-australia-2015-technical-report-26582 AFC Technical Report]</small>

==Records==
The 2015 Asian Cup achieved 26 consecutive matches without a draw, the most of any major football tournament, breaking the previous record of 18 set at the [[1930 FIFA World Cup]] in [[Uruguay]].<ref>{{cite news|url= http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/01/19/asian-cup-smashes-football-tournament-world-record |title= Asian Cup smashes football tournament world record |work= The World Game |date= 19 January 2015 |access-date= 19 January 2015}}</ref>

[[Ali Mabkhout]] broke the record for fastest goal at the AFC Asian Cup, scoring after just 14 seconds for the [[United Arab Emirates national football team|United Arab Emirates]] against [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]] in their group stage match.<ref>{{cite news|title=UAE records second straight Asian Cup win with 2-1 defeat of Bahrain|newspaper=ABC News|date=15 January 2015|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-15/bahrain-uae/6019898|publisher=abc.net.au|access-date=25 January 2015}}</ref>

[[Palestine national football team|Palestine]] made its first ever appearance in the Asian Cup, and [[Jaka Ihbeisheh]] scored the nation's first ever goal in an Asian Cup in their second group match against [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]]. This goal also marked for the first time a Slovene scored in an Asian Cup game, as Jaka's being Slovenian descent.

With the title, [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] became the first men's national team to win titles in two different confederations, having won the [[OFC Nations Cup]] four times before moving to the AFC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/31/socceroos-lift-asian-cup-after-dramatic-extra-time-win-over-south-korea|title=Socceroos lift Asian Cup after dramatic extra-time win over South Korea|work=The Guardian|date=31 January 2015}}</ref> [[Tim Cahill]] and [[Mark Bresciano]] became the first men's players to win two different confederation titles, having previously won the [[2004 OFC Nations Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/FIFAcom/status/561539057692737536|title=FIFA.com @ Twitter|publisher=Twitter|date=31 January 2015}}</ref> By winning the Asian Cup, Australia also became the first country to simultaneously hold the [[AFC Asian Cup]] and [[AFC Champions League]] titles, following the triumph of [[Western Sydney Wanderers FC|Western Sydney Wanderers]] in the [[2014 AFC Champions League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8952857|title=Australia down South Korea, win Asian Cup|work=wwos|access-date=1 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203033142/http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8952857|archive-date=3 February 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/01/31/22/45/socceroos-crowned-kings-of-asia|title=Socceroos crowned kings of Asia in extra-time final thriller|work=news|date=31 January 2015 }}</ref>

==Marketing==

===Trophy tour===
[[File:AFC Asian Cup at Fed Square.jpg|thumb|The Asian Cup on tour at [[Federation Square]]]]

The Trophy Tour commenced in China in September 2014, it then travelled to Qatar, United Arab Emirates, South Korea and Japan before arriving in Australia in December, where the trophy made it to all five 2015 AFC Asian Cup host cities.<ref>{{cite web |title=AFC Asian Cup trophy set for host city tour |date=13 November 2014 |url=http://www.socceroos.com.au/article/afc-asian-cup-trophy-set-for-host-city-tour/1xpipq6hk5hmp1wi0ys8w8faf9 |publisher=socceroos.com.au |access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref>

===Opening ceremony===
[[File:AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.jpg|thumb|Asian Cup opening ceremony]]

The opening ceremony of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup took place on 9 January, at the [[Melbourne Rectangular Stadium]], before the opening match of the tournament between hosts Australia and Kuwait.<ref>{{cite web |title=Victoria to open Australia's biggest ever international football event |url=http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/9488-victoria-to-open-australia-s-biggest-ever-international-football-event.html |publisher=premier.vic.gov.au |access-date=23 November 2014 |archive-date=23 November 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141123100212/http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/9488-victoria-to-open-australia-s-biggest-ever-international-football-event.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ceremony was produced by a consortium of sport event specialists Twenty3 Sports + Entertainment and creative technology firm Spinifex Group. The consortium has worked on the main international sporting events including the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] and the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] opening ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |title=Consortium appointed to create Asian Cup opening ceremony |date=July 2014 |url=http://mumbrella.com.au/consortium-appointed-create-asian-cup-opening-ceremony-235618 |publisher=mumbrella.com.au |access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> The opening ceremony for the Asian Cup directed by Peter Nielson with Musical Direction by [[Chong Lim]], and featured performances by Australian DJ, singer and dancer [[Havana Brown (musician)|Havana Brown]], Australian indie pop band [[Sheppard (band)|Sheppard]], Indigenous Australian musician [[Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu]], and Australian hip-hop artists L-Fresh The Lion, Joelistics and Mistress of Ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sukhdeep Singh L- Fresh The Lion will perform at the Opening Ceremony The 2015 AFC Asian Cup |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/highlight/page/id/382079/t/Sukhdeep-Singh-L-Fresh-The-Lion-will-perform-at-the-Opening-Ceremony-The-2015-AFC-Asian-Cup/in/english |publisher=sbs.com.au |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103042450/http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/punjabi/highlight/page/id/382079/t/Sukhdeep-Singh-L-Fresh-The-Lion-will-perform-at-the-Opening-Ceremony-The-2015-AFC-Asian-Cup/in/english |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Cup opening ceremony |url=http://l-fresh.com/events/asia-cup/ |publisher=l-fresh.com |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150103043949/http://l-fresh.com/events/asia-cup/ |archive-date=3 January 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It also featured 80 children from local junior football clubs and a performing cast of more than 120 Australian dancers, acrobats, [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] performers and [[Freestyle football|football freestylers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Cup to kick-start Melbourne sporting feast |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/asian-cup-to-kick-start-melbourne-sporting-feast/story-fni0fit3-1227163742459 |publisher=heraldsun.com.au |access-date=23 December 2014}}</ref>

===Logo and mascot===
[[File:Nutmeg the Mascot.JPG|thumbnail|Nutmeg the Wombat, mascot of the cup at [[Federation Square]]]]

The official logo for the tournament was unveiled at a special event in Melbourne, in October 2012. Designed by Sydney agency, WiteKite.<ref>{{cite web |title=2015 AFC Asian Cup logo |url=http://www.designstation.com.au/blog/2015-afc-asian-cup-logo/ |publisher=designstation.com.au |access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref> The logo depicts a stylised player, kicking a football from the east coast of Australia across country towards Asia. The ball also represents the Australian summer sun arcing west from Australia to Asia. The four golden bands forming the map of Australia represent the four host cities. The design is embraced by the AFC holding device.<ref>{{cite web |title=AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 Preliminary Draw Conducted and Competition Logo Launched |url=http://www.footballnsw.com.au/index.php?id=149&tx_ttnews%5Byear%5D=2012&tx_ttnews%5Bmonth%5D=10&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=7143&cHash=8110ebfef450a3281fe22f4cb3875bec |publisher=footballnsw.com.au |access-date=23 November 2014}}</ref>

The mascot of the tournament, "Nutmeg the Wombat", was unveiled at the [[Wild Life Sydney|Wild Life Sydney Zoo]], on 11 November 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/nutmeg/1gn9ryfcr8mpu1m418ywqn6khb |title=Nutmeg the Wombat named Cup mascot |publisher=AFC Asian Cup |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=18 November 2014 |archive-date=18 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118033709/http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/nutmeg/1gn9ryfcr8mpu1m418ywqn6khb |url-status=dead }}</ref> The mascot, a [[wombat]] native to Australia, wore the colours of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, red and yellow. It was named after the football trick where a player [[Dribbling|dribbles]] the ball through an opponent's legs, known as a [[Nutmeg (football)|nutmeg]].{{fact|date=March 2025}}

===Song===
Theme song was [[Warrior (Havana Brown song)|Warrior]] by [[Havana Brown (musician)|Havana Brown]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ômega Hitz |date=9 January 2015 |title=Kids Football Kit |url=https://kidsfootballkit.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319015849/http://omegahitz.com.br/havana-brown-faz-performance-de-warrior-na-australia/ |archive-date=19 March 2015 |access-date=11 June 2018 |website=Havana Brown faz performance de "Warrior" na Austrália |language=pt}}</ref>

===Sponsorship===
AFC announced ten official sponsors and six official supporters as shown below.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Asian Cup|url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/about/en/|publisher=afcasiancup.com|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=20 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120062637/http://www.afcasiancup.com/about/en|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Official sponsors
!Official supporters
|-
|
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
* [[Continental AG|Continental]]
* [[Emirates (airline)|Fly Emirates]]
* [[Epson]]
* [[Kirin Company|Kirin]]
* [[Konica Minolta]]
{{col-2}}
* [[QatarEnergy]]
* [[Credit Saison|Saison Card]]
* [[Samsung Electronics]]
* [[Toshiba]]
* [[Toyota]]
{{col-end}}
|
* [[Asahi Shimbun]]
* [[FamilyMart]]
* [[Hyundai Heavy Industries]]
* [[Makita]]
* [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]
* [[Nikon|Nikon Corporation]]
|}

==Broadcasting==
The tournament was broadcast live by around 80 TV channels covering the whole world.<ref name=acbroadcasters>{{cite web |title=Official broadcasters |url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/about/en/272h8qys4k7f1xd17dphsiujc |publisher=afcasiancup.com |access-date=1 December 2014 |archive-date=5 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205180634/http://www.afcasiancup.com/about/en/272h8qys4k7f1xd17dphsiujc |url-status=dead }}</ref> 800 million people were expected to watch matches,<ref name=twgticketing /> with the tournament reaching a potential TV audience of more than 2.5 billion people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sydney and Newcastle to host 10 countries in AFC Asian Cup pool matches |url=http://www.destinationnsw.com.au/news-and-media/media-releases/sydney-and-newcastle-to-host-10-countries-in-afc-asian-cup-pool-matches |publisher=destinationnsw.com.au |access-date=8 December 2014}}</ref> Below is the list of confirmed broadcasting right holders for 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Territory
!Channel
!Ref
|-
|{{flag|Arab League}}
|[[beIN Sports (MENA)|beIN Sports]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|[[Asia-Pacific]]
|[[Fox International Channels]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|{{AUS}}
|[[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports]], [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]
|<ref>{{cite web |title=ABC, FOX SPORTS, Asian Cup LOC and FFA announce deal for free to air broadcast of Asian Cup Football |url=http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-fox-sports-asian-cup-loc-and-ffa-announce-deal-for-free-to-air-broadcast-of-asian-cup-football/ |publisher=abc.net.au |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref>
|-
|{{BRA}}
|[[SporTV]], [[Rede Bandeirantes|Band]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|{{CHN}}
|[[China Central Television|CCTV]]
|<ref name=tsmplay>{{cite web |title=Channels Telecasting Asian Cup 2015 |url=http://www.tsmplay.com/football/tv-channels-broadcasting-asian-cup/ |publisher=tsmplay.com |access-date=22 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070239/http://www.tsmplay.com/football/tv-channels-broadcasting-asian-cup/ |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
|[[Europe]]
|[[Eurosport]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|{{HKG}}
|[[Now TV (China)|Now TV]]
|<ref name=tsmplay />
|-
|{{IND}}
|[[Star Sports (TV channel)|Star Sports]]
|<ref name=tsmplay />
|-
|{{IDN}}
|[[SINDOtv|Sindo TV]]
|<ref name=tsmplay />
|-
|{{IRN}}
| [[IRIB]]
|<ref name=tsmplay />
|-
|{{JPN}}
|[[TV Asahi]], [[NHK BS1]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|{{MYS}}
|[[TV3 (Malaysia)|TV3]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|{{NZL}}
|[[Sky Sport (New Zealand)|Sky Sport]]
|<ref name=tsmplay />
|-
|[[North America]]
|[[ONE World Sports]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|{{RSA}}
|[[SABC]]
|<ref name=tsmplay />
|-
|{{KOR}}
|[[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]], [[Seoul Broadcasting System|SBS]], [[Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation|MBC]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|{{THA}}
|[[Channel 7 (Thailand)|Channel 7]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|{{PHI}}
|[[ABS-CBN Sports+Action]]
|<ref name=acbroadcasters />
|-
|[[United States]]
|[[One World Sports]]
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-11-29 |title=TV Channels Broadcasting AFC Asian Cup 2015 |url=http://www.tsmplay.com/football/tv-channels-broadcasting-asian-cup/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070239/http://www.tsmplay.com/football/tv-channels-broadcasting-asian-cup/ |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref>
|-
|{{UZB}}
|SPORT-UZ
|<ref name=tsmplay />
|}

==Controversies==
Due to a [[Lindt Cafe siege|hostage taking in Sydney in December 2014]], security was increased for all team bases and stadiums, in addition to police escorts for all official activities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Asian Cup: Hosts Australia asked to strengthen security|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30491795|access-date=18 January 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=16 December 2014}}</ref>

During a [[doping test]], [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]]'s [[Ahmad Hayel]] was required to drink so much water to produce a urine sample, that he developed [[hypothermia]] and was rendered unconscious.<ref>{{cite news|title=Asian Cup: Doping test 'makes Jordan player sick'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30810610|access-date=14 January 2015|work=BBC Sport|date=14 January 2015}}</ref> Jordan coach [[Ray Wilkins]] was infuriated at Asian Cup officials over the procedure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/sports/football/jordan-coach-ray-wilkins-hopping-mad-over-doping-fiasco_1530716.html|title=Jordan coach Ray Wilkins hopping mad over doping fiasco|work=Zee News}}</ref>

On 24 January 2015, following the country's elimination from the tournament, it was revealed that the [[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|Iranian Football Federation]] (FFIRI) had lodged a formal complaint to [[FIFA]] against their quarter-final opponent. The complaint was regarding the eligibility of [[Iraq national football team|Iraqi]] midfielder [[Alaa Abdul-Zahra]], with the FFIRI arguing that the player should not have been allowed to play due to him submitting a positive doping test while playing for an Iranian club side in 2014. According to documents seen by [[Agence France-Presse]], the 27-year-old tested positive for the banned stimulant [[methylhexanamine]], in results that were verified by a [[World Anti-Doping Agency|WADA]]-approved laboratory in [[Cologne]].<ref name="wada">{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/iran-protest-over-ineligible-iraq-football-player-023334970--sow.html|title=Iran's protest over Iraqi player rejected|date=25 January 2015|work=Yahoo Sports|access-date=14 January 2017|archive-date=21 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721172652/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/iran-protest-over-ineligible-iraq-football-player-023334970--sow.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In an email exchange dated September 2014, FIFA promised to take action, but there is no record of a suspension for Abdul-Zahra.<ref name="wada"/> The [[Iran national football team|Iranian national team]] remained in Australia whilst awaiting a response from FIFA and a final decision by the AFC disciplinary committee.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iraq's quarter-final win thrown into question after Iran claims ineligible player|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/01/24/iraqs-quarter-final-win-thrown-question-after-iran-claims-ineligible-player|publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au|access-date=25 January 2015}}</ref> On 25 January, the AFC disciplinary committee decided that the FFIRI protest was unfounded, and, therefore, dismissed the case, with Iraq, cleared to take its place in their semi-final match against South Korea the following day.<ref>{{cite news|title=Asian Cup: Iran appeal against Iraq over ineligible player dismissed after quarter-final loss|newspaper=ABC News |date=25 January 2015 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-25/iran-asian-cup-protest-against-iraq-dismissed/6045366|publisher=abc.net.au|access-date=25 January 2015}}</ref>

On 29 January 2015, after the defeat of Iraq and the United Arab Emirates during the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, West Asian Football Federation members reportedly sought to remove Australia from the AFC primarily due to "Australia benefiting hugely from Asian involvement without giving much in return", the resentment grew in the aftermath of Australia's conquest of the tournament.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/angry-gulf-nations-leading-charge-to-kick-australia-out-of-asian-football-confederation-20150129-131e5g.html| title = Angry Gulf nations leading charge to kick Australia out of Asian Football Confederation| date = 29 January 2015}} </ref>

==Notes==
{{notes}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
<!-- Per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only -->
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.afcasiancup.com/|name=AFC Asian Cup official website}} {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.the-afc.com/competition/afc-asian-cup AFC Asian Cup on The-AFC.com]

{{2015 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{2015 AFC Asian Cup finalists}}
{{2015 AFC Asian Cup stadiums}}
{{AFC Asian Cup}}
{{2015 in Asian football (AFC)}}
{{2017 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{2015 in Japanese football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:AFC Asian Cup 2015}}
[[Category:2015 AFC Asian Cup| ]]
[[Category:AFC Asian Cup tournaments|2015]]
[[Category:2015 in AFC football|Asian Cup]]
[[Category:2014–15 in Australian men's soccer]]
[[Category:International association football competitions hosted by Australia]]
[[Category:January 2015 sports events in Australia]]