Asia Cup 2024 Winner Odds & Prediction

The 18th edition of the Asian Cup takes place in Qatar over the next few weeks - here is what to expect.

�� Asia Cup 2024 winner odds

Here are the latest odds for the top 4 candidates to be the top scorer this season at bet365.

Best bookies to bet on the Asia Cup

Asian Nations Cup favourites

The following teams are expected to put up the greatest fight for the Cup:

Japan (2/1)

Japan are the favourites to win the Asian Cup for a record-extending fifth time. Champions in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011, the Samurai Blue have the strongest squad on the continent. They demonstrated their credentials at the last World Cup, beating Germany and Spain on their way to the knockout phase.

Hajime Moriyasu has been in charge of the national team since 2018, although he is still seen as overly cautious by some.

South Korea (9/2)

South Korea arguably have the best starting XI in Asia, although there is a question mark over their strength in depth. But with Kim Min-jae, Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan all enjoying excellent seasons, the Koreans are leading contenders.

South Korea have not won the Asian Cup since 1960, however. There are also doubts over Jurgen Klinsmann, but the German has the chance to prove his critics wrong over the next few weeks.

Australia (13/2)

Australia upset the odds to reach the knockout phase of the World Cup in Qatar, and they are now looking to go all the way in the same country. However, Graham Arnold has only called up 12 members of the squad that impressed in 2022.

Australia will also have more possession in their matches at the Asian Cup. It remains to be seen how adept they are at breaking down deep defences and prising open opposition structures.

Iran (7/1)

Iran are three-time continental champions, but their most recent success was way back in 1976. They have not even made the final since then, a record that manager Amir Ghalenoei is desperate to improve upon.

Ghalenoei has overseen 10 victories in his 12 matches at the helm. Iran are definitely good enough to go all the way in 2024, but they must show that they are able to handle the pressure once we get to the knockout rounds.

Asian Nations Cup dark horses

Not the favourites, but still very much in the game, these are the dark horses of the AFC Asia Cup:

Saudi Arabia (8/1)

Saudi Arabia will be well supported in Qatar, where they memorably beat future champions Argentina at the last World Cup. In Roberto Mancini the Saudis have arguably the best manager in the competition.

Mancini has had a tricky start to his new job, however, and several squad members have found game time hard to come by in the Pro League after the influx of foreign stars in 2023.

Qatar (11/1)

Surprise winners in 2019, Qatar were shown to be out of their depth at the World Cup on home soil. The build-up to this tournament has not been ideal, with Tintin Marquez replacing Carlos Queiroz as manager just a few weeks ago.

Playing on home soil is a clear advantage, though, and Qatar have an excellent chance of topping Group A. Provided they do so, the path to the semi-finals does not look too daunting.

United Arab Emirates (25/1)

Persuading Paulo Bento, a former head coach of South Korea, Portugal and Olympiacos, to take charge of the UAE was seen as a coup. Ali Mabkhout is one to watch up front, but former wonderkid Omar Abdulrahman is no longer part of the national team setup.

The UAE are likely to finish second to Iran in Group C, which would probably set up a tricky clash with Japan in the last eight.

Asia Cup 2024 outsiders

If you're interested in a long shot, you might want to take your chances with one of the following teams:

China (33/1)

Around a decade ago, it looked like China was a footballing superpower in the making. Yet governmental interest in the sport has cooled since then and the national team has made little progress over the last 10 years or so.

China’s group is not the hardest, though - they will face Qatar, Tajikistan and Lebanon in the first phase - and in Wu Lei they have one of the best centre-forwards in the tournament.

Oman (40/1)

Oman have beaten the UAE and China in recent months, confirming their status as potential outsiders at the Asian Cup. In truth they are unlikely to make it into the latter stages of the competition, but Oman will be quietly confident of reaching the last 16 at a minimum.

Their star player Jameel Al-Yahmadi is based in Qatar, while the 69-year-old Branko Ivankovic is a vastly experienced manager.

Palestine (100/1)

The ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza casts a long shadow over the Palestine national team ahead of the Asian Cup, but the players who have been called up will be determined to make their country proud.

Palestine’s squad is not without talent and they held Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw in a warm-up friendly. They can be tough to break down and should not be written off entirely.

�� How to watch the Asia Cup

• Location: Qatar
• Date and time: Friday 12 January 2024 - Saturday 10 February 2024
• How to watch: Triller TV

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

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