# AFC U-20 Asian Cup

The AFC U-20 Asian Cup, formerly known as the AFC Youth Championship and AFC U-19 Championship, is a biennial international association football competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-20 national teams of Asia that also serves as a qualification tournament for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. The competition has been held since 1959. Between 1959 and 1978, the tournament was held annually (without qualification); since 1980, it has been held every two years. The 1980 AFC Youth Championship had a qualification stage for first time.
The tournament has been played in a number of different formats during its existence. Currently, it consists of two stages, similar to the AFC's other Asian Championship competitions. The qualifying stage is open to all AFC members and the final stage is contested between 16 teams. The most recent edition, the 42nd, was held in China. The AFC switched the tournament from under-19 to under-20 starting from 2023. Moreover, the tournament was also rebranded from the "AFC U-19 Championship" to the "AFC U-20 Asian Cup".

## Results

* Coordinate is based on the capital of the country.

### Tournament names

* 1959–2006: AFC Youth Championship
* 2008–2020: AFC U-19 Championship
* 2023–present: AFC U-20 Asian Cup
| Edition | Year | Hosts | Final | Final | Final | | Third place match | Third place match | Third place match |
| Edition | Year | Hosts | Champions | Score | Runners-up | | Third place | Score | Fourth place |
| 1 | 1959 | Malaya | South Korea | | Malaya | | Japan | | Hong Kong |
| 2 | 1960 | Malaya | South Korea | 4–0 | Malaya | | Japan | 3–2 | Indonesia |
| 3 | 1961 | Thailand | Indonesia Burma | 0–0 | | | Thailand | 2–1 | South Vietnam |
| 4 | 1962 | Thailand | Thailand | 2–1 | South Korea | | Indonesia | 3–0 | Malaya |
| 5 | 1963 | Malaya | South Korea Burma | 2–2 | | | Thailand Hong Kong | 2–2 | |
| 6 | 1964 | South Vietnam | Burma Israel | 0–0 | | | Malaysia | 5–1 | South Korea |
| 7 | 1965 | Japan | Israel | 5–0 | Burma | | Malaysia | 4–1 | Hong Kong |
| 8 | 1966 | Philippines | Israel Burma | 1–1 | | | Republic of China Thailand | 0–0 | |
| 9 | 1967 | Thailand | Israel | 3–0 | Indonesia | | Burma | 4–0 | Singapore |
| 10 | 1968 | South Korea | Burma | 4–0 | Malaysia | | South Korea Israel | 0–0 | |
| 11 | 1969 | Thailand | Burma Thailand | 2–2 | | | Iran | 2–1 | Israel |
| 12 | 1970 | Philippines | Burma | 3–0 | Indonesia | | South Korea | 5–0 | Japan |
| 13 | 1971 | Japan | Israel | 1–0 | South Korea | | Burma | 2–0 | Japan |
| 14 | 1972 | Thailand | Israel | 1–0 | South Korea | | Iran | 3–0 | Thailand |
| 15 | 1973 | Iran | Iran | 2–0 | Japan | | South Korea | 3–0 | Saudi Arabia |
| 16 | 1974 | Thailand | India Iran | 2–2 | | | South Korea | 2–1 | Thailand |
| 17 | 1975 | Kuwait | Iraq Iran | 0–0 | | | Kuwait North Korea | 2–2 | |
| 18 | 1976 | Thailand | Iran North Korea | 0–0 | | | South Korea | 2–1 | Thailand |
| 19 | 1977 | Iran | Iraq | 4–3 | Iran | | Bahrain | 3–1 | Japan |
| 20 | 1978 | Bangladesh | Iraq South Korea | 1–1 | | | North Korea Kuwait | 1–1 | |
| — | 1979 | China | Canceled due to problems with the South Korean national team's entry into China | Canceled due to problems with the South Korean national team's entry into China | Canceled due to problems with the South Korean national team's entry into China | Canceled due to problems with the South Korean national team's entry into China | Canceled due to problems with the South Korean national team's entry into China | Canceled due to problems with the South Korean national team's entry into China | Canceled due to problems with the South Korean national team's entry into China | Canceled due to problems with the South Korean national team's entry into China |
| 21 | 1980 | Thailand | South Korea | | Qatar | | Japan | | Thailand |
| 22 | 1982 | Thailand | South Korea | | China | | Iraq | | United Arab Emirates |
| 23 | 1985 | United Arab Emirates | China | | Saudi Arabia | | United Arab Emirates | | Thailand |
| 24 | 1986 | Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | 2–0 | Bahrain | | North Korea | 1–0 | Qatar |
| 25 | 1988 | Qatar | Iraq | 1–1 (5–4 p) | Syria | | Qatar | 2–0 | United Arab Emirates |
| 26 | 1990 | Indonesia | South Korea | 0–0 (4–3 p) | North Korea | | Syria | 1–0 | Qatar |
| 27 | 1992 | United Arab Emirates | Saudi Arabia | 2–0 | South Korea | | Japan | 3–0 | United Arab Emirates |
| 28 | 1994 | Indonesia | Syria | 2–1 | Japan | | Thailand | 1–1 (3–2 p) | Iraq |
| 29 | 1996 | South Korea | South Korea | 3–0 | China | | United Arab Emirates | 2–2 (4–3 p) | Japan |
| 30 | 1998 | Thailand | South Korea | 2–1 | Japan | | Saudi Arabia | 3–1 | Kazakhstan |
| 31 | 2000 | Iran | Iraq | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Japan | | China | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) | Iran |
| 32 | 2002 | Qatar | South Korea | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Japan | | Saudi Arabia | 4–0 | Uzbekistan |
| 33 | 2004 | Malaysia | South Korea | 2–0 | China | | Japan | 1–1 (4–3 p) | Syria |
| 34 | 2006 | India | North Korea | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p) | Japan | | South Korea | 2–0 | Jordan |
| Edition | Year | Hosts | Final | Final | Final | | Losing semi-finalists | Losing semi-finalists | Losing semi-finalists |
| Edition | Year | Hosts | Champions | Score | Runners-up | | Losing semi-finalists | Losing semi-finalists | Losing semi-finalists |
| 35 | 2008 | Saudi Arabia | United Arab Emirates | 2–1 | Uzbekistan | | Australia and South Korea | Australia and South Korea | Australia and South Korea |
| 36 | 2010 | China | North Korea | 3–2 | Australia | | Saudi Arabia and South Korea | Saudi Arabia and South Korea | Saudi Arabia and South Korea |
| 37 | 2012 | United Arab Emirates | South Korea | 1–1 (4–1 p) | Iraq | | Australia and Uzbekistan | Australia and Uzbekistan | Australia and Uzbekistan |
| 38 | 2014 | Myanmar | Qatar | 1–0 | North Korea | | Myanmar and Uzbekistan | Myanmar and Uzbekistan | Myanmar and Uzbekistan |
| 39 | 2016 | Bahrain | Japan | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p) | Saudi Arabia | | Iran and Vietnam | Iran and Vietnam | Iran and Vietnam |
| 40 | 2018 | Indonesia | Saudi Arabia | 2–1 | South Korea | | Japan and Qatar | Japan and Qatar | Japan and Qatar |
| — | 2020 | Uzbekistan | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 41 | 2023 | Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan | 1–0 | Iraq | | Japan and South Korea | Japan and South Korea | Japan and South Korea |
| 42 | 2025 | China | Australia | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Saudi Arabia | | Japan and South Korea | Japan and South Korea | Japan and South Korea |

### Notes
## Successful national teams

| Team | Champions | Runners-up | Third place | Fourth place | Semi-finalists | Total (top 4) |
| South Korea | 12 (1959, 1960, 1963, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2012) | 5 (1962, 1971, 1972, 1992, 2018) | 6 (1968, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1976, 2006) | 1 (1964) | 4 (2008, 2010, 2023, 2025) | 28 |
| Myanmar | 7 (1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970) | 1 (1965) | 2 (1967, 1971) | – | 1 (2014) | 11 |
| Israel | 6 (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972) | – | 1 (1968) | 1 (1969) | – | 8 |
| Iraq | 5 (1975, 1977, 1978, 1988, 2000) | 2 (2012, 2023) | 1 (1982) | 1 (1994) | – | 9 |
| Iran | 4 (1973, 1974, 1975, 1976) | 1 (1977) | 2 (1969, 1972) | 1 (2000) | 1 (2016) | 9 |
| Saudi Arabia | 3 (1986, 1992, 2018) | 3 (1985, 2016, 2025) | 2 (1998, 2002) | 1 (1973) | 1 (2010) | 10 |
| North Korea | 3 (1976, 2006, 2010) | 2 (1990, 2014) | 3 (1975, 1978, 1986) | – | – | 8 |
| Thailand | 2 (1962, 1969) | – | 4 (1961, 1963, 1966, 1994) | 5 (1972, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1985) | – | 11 |
| Japan | 1 (2016) | 6 (1973, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006) | 5 (1959, 1960, 1980, 1992, 2004) | 4 (1970, 1971, 1977, 1996) | 3 (2018, 2023, 2025) | 19 |
| China | 1 (1985) | 3 (1982, 1996, 2004) | 1 (2000) | – | – | 5 |
| Indonesia | 1 (1961) | 2 (1967, 1970) | 1 (1962) | 1 (1960) | – | 5 |
| Qatar | 1 (2014) | 1 (1980) | 1 (1988) | 2 (1986, 1990) | 1 (2018) | 6 |
| Syria | 1 (1994) | 1 (1988) | 1 (1990) | 1 (2004) | – | 4 |
| Uzbekistan | 1 (2023) | 1 (2008) | – | 1 (2002) | 2 (2012, 2014) | 5 |
| Australia | 1 (2025) | 1 (2010) | – | – | 2 (2008, 2012) | 4 |
| United Arab Emirates | 1 (2008) | – | 2 (1985, 1996) | 3 (1982, 1988, 1992) | – | 6 |
| India | 1 (1974) | – | – | – | – | 1 |
| Malaysia | – | 3 (1959, 1960, 1968) | 2 (1964, 1965) | 1 (1962) | – | 6 |
| Bahrain | – | 1 (1986) | 1 (1977) | – | – | 2 |
| Kuwait | – | – | 2 (1975, 1978) | – | – | 2 |
| Hong Kong | – | – | 1 (1963) | 2 (1959, 1965) | – | 3 |
| Chinese Taipei | – | – | 1 (1966) | – | – | 1 |
| Vietnam | – | – | – | 1 (1961) | 1 (2016) | 2 |
| Singapore | – | – | – | 1 (1967) | – | 1 |
| Kazakhstan | – | – | – | 1 (1998) | – | 1 |
| Jordan | – | – | – | 1 (2006) | – | 1 |
| Total (as of 2025) | 51 | 33 | 39 | 29 | 16 | 168 |
Notes:
* Bold Italic indicates hosts for that year.
* Total (41 editions): Nine editions shared champions, five editions shared third place, and eight editions with no third place match.

## Awards

| Tournament | Most Valuable Player | Top goalscorer(s) | Goals | Fair play award |
| 1978 Bangladesh | Unknown | Haris Mohammed | 7 | Unknown |
| 1980 Thailand | Choi Soon-ho | Choi Soon-ho | 4 | Unknown |
| 1996 South Korea | Kim Do-kyun | Wang Peng | 6 | Unknown |
| 1998 Thailand | Lee Dong-gook | Lee Dong-gook | 5 | Unknown |
| 2000 Iran | Unknown | Emad Mohammed | 4 | Unknown |
| 2002 Qatar | Kim Dong-hyun | Unknown | | South Korea |
| 2004 Malaysia | Park Chu-young | Park Chu-young | 6 | Unknown |
| 2006 India | Kim Kum-il | Shim Young-sung | 5 | North Korea |
| 2008 Saudi Arabia | Ahmed Khalil | Ahmed Khalil Kensuke Nagai | 4 | Uzbekistan |
| 2010 China | Jong Il-gwan | Kerem Bulut | 7 | Unknown |
| 2012 United Arab Emirates | Mohannad Abdul-Raheem | Igor Sergeev | 7 | Iraq |
| 2014 Myanmar | Ahmed Moein | Ahmed Al Saadi | 5 | North Korea |
| 2016 Bahrain | Ritsu Dōan | Sami Al-Najei | 4 | Japan |
| 2018 Indonesia | Turki Al-Ammar | Abdulrasheed Umaru | 7 | Saudi Arabia |
| 2023 Uzbekistan | Abbosbek Fayzullaev | Naoki Kumata | 5 | Uzbekistan |
| 2025 China | Alexander Badolato | Mukhammadali Urinboev | 4 | Australia |

## Participating nations
### Legend

* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* SF – Semi-finalists
* QF – Quarter-finals
* GS – Group stage
* q – Qualified for upcoming tournament
* DQ – Disqualified
* •• – Qualified but withdrew
* • – Did not qualify
* × – Did not enter
* × – Withdrew / Banned / Entry not accepted by FIFA
* — Country not affiliated to AFC at that time
* — Country did not exist or national team was inactive
* – Hosts
* – Not affiliated to FIFA
| Nation | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 |
| Afghanistan | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | QF | GS |
| Australia | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bahrain | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | QF | × | 3rd | QF |
| Bangladesh | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | GS | GS |
| Bhutan | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Brunei | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | GS | × | GS | GS | × | × | × |
| Cambodia | × | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | GS | × | × | × | × |
| China | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | QF | QF | × | GS |
| Chinese Taipei | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | 3rd | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | × | GS | × | × | × | × |
| Guam | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Hong Kong | 4th | × | × | GS | 3rd | × | 4th | QF | GS | GS | GS | QF | GS | GS | GS | QF | QF | GS | GS | × |
| India | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | GS | QF | QF | GS | × | × | QF | GS | GS | 1st | GS | GS | QF | GS |
| Indonesia | × | 4th | 1st | 3rd | × | × | × | × | 2nd | × | GS | 2nd | GS | QF | GS | × | GS | QF | × | QF |
| Iran | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | 3rd | QF | QF | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 2nd | QF |
| Iraq | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | 1st | QF | 1st | 1st |
| Israel | × | × | × | × | × | 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 4th | QF | 1st | 1st | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Japan | 3rd | 3rd | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | QF | 4th | 4th | QF | 2nd | QF | GS | GS | 4th | GS |
| Jordan | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | GS |
| Kazakhstan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Kuwait | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | QF | × | × | × | 3rd | GS | × | 3rd |
| Kyrgyzstan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Laos | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | QF | × | GS | × | GS | × | × | × | × |
| Lebanon | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | QF | × | × | × | × | × |
| Macau | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Malaysia | 2nd | 2nd | GS | 4th | GS | 3rd | 3rd | QF | GS | 2nd | QF | GS | QF | GS | GS | QF | GS | GS | GS | GS |
| Maldives | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Mongolia | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Myanmar | 6th | GS | 1st | GS | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 1st | 1st | 3rd | QF | QF | GS | GS | QF | × | × |
| Nepal | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | GS | × | GS | × | × | × | × |
| North Korea | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | 3rd | 1st | × | 3rd |
| Oman | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Pakistan | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × | × |
| Palestine | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Philippines | 9th | GS | × | × | GS | × | GS | GS | GS | R2 | GS | GS | GS | GS | × | GS | GS | × | × | × |
| Qatar | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Saudi Arabia | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | 4th | × | × | × | QF | QF |
| Singapore | 7th | GS | GS | GS | GS | × | × | GS | 4th | GS | GS | GS | GS | QF | QF | QF | GS | GS | GS | GS |
| South Korea | 1st | 1st | GS | 2nd | 1st | 4th | GS | QF | GS | 3rd | QF | 3rd | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 3rd | × | 3rd | QF | 1st |
| South Yemen | | | | | | | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | QF | × | × | × |
| Sri Lanka | 8th | × | GS | × | GS | × | × | GS | QF | × | GS | GS | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | GS |
| Syria | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS | × | × | × |
| Tajikistan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Thailand | 5th | GS | 3rd | 1st | 3rd | GS | GS | 3rd | QF | R2 | 1st | GS | GS | 4th | QF | 4th | × | 4th | × | × |
| Timor-Leste | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Turkmenistan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| United Arab Emirates | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × |
| Uzbekistan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vietnam | × | × | 4th | GS | GS | GS | GS | × | QF | GS | QF | GS | GS | × | × | GS | × | × | × | × |
| Yemen | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | GS |
| Nation | 1980 | 1982 | 1985 | 1986 | 1988 | 1990 | 1992 | 1994 | 1996 | 1998 | 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2006 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2016 | 2018 | 2023 | 2025 | Total |
| Afghanistan | × | × | × | • | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | DQ | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | 3 |
| Australia | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | QF | SF | 2nd | SF | GS | GS | QF | QF | 1st | 9 |
| Bahrain | × | • | • | 2nd | • | GS | • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | QF | • | • | • | 9 |
| Bangladesh | 5th | × | • | × | • | • | • | × | GS | • | • | GS | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 6 |
| Bhutan | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | • | • | × | • | × | • | × | • | • | 0 |
| Brunei | • | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | 4 |
| Cambodia | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | 3 |
| China | • | 2nd | 1st | • | GS | • | • | • | 2nd | GS | 3rd | QF | 2nd | QF | QF | QF | GS | QF | GS | GS | QF | QF | 20 |
| Chinese Taipei | × | × | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | Part of OFC | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | 10 |
| Guam | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | × | • | • | 0 |
| Hong Kong | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | 16 |
| India | • | • | • | GS | × | GS | GS | × | GS | GS | • | QF | GS | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 22 |
| Indonesia | • | • | • | GS | × | GS | • | GS | • | × | • | • | GS | • | • | • | • | GS | × | QF | GS | GS | 20 |
| Iran | × | × | × | × | • | × | GS | × | GS | • | 4th | • | GS | GS | GS | GS | QF | GS | SF | • | QF | QF | 22 |
| Iraq | × | 3rd | • | • | 1st | × | × | 4th | × | GS | 1st | • | QF | QF | GS | GS | 2nd | GS | QF | GS | 2nd | QF | 19 |
| Israel | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | Part of OFC and later UEFA | 9 |
| Japan | 3rd | • | • | • | GS | GS | 3rd | 2nd | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 2nd | QF | QF | QF | QF | 1st | SF | SF | SF | 39 |
| Jordan | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | • | • | • | 4th | GS | GS | QF | • | • | GS | QF | GS | 9 |
| Kazakhstan | | | | | | | × | GS | • | 4th | • | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | Part of UEFA | 2 |
| Kuwait | × | • | • | • | • | × | • | GS | • | GS | GS | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | × | • | • | 8 |
| Kyrgyzstan | | | | | | | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | GS | × | • | × | × | • | • | GS | GS | 3 |
| Laos | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 5 |
| Lebanon | × | × | × | × | • | × | • | × | • | × | • | × | • | • | GS | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | 2 |
| Macau | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | • | 0 |
| Malaysia | • | • | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | QF | GS | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | 23 |
| Maldives | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | 0 |
| Mongolia | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | • | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | 0 |
| Myanmar | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | SF | • | • | • | • | 19 |
| Nepal | • | • | × | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | 4 |
| New Zealand | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | GS | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | 1 |
| North Korea | × | DQ | × | 3rd | GS | 2nd | × | × | × | • | × | × | × | 1st | QF | 1st | GS | 2nd | GS | GS | × | GS | 14 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | Not member of AFC | × | × | × | • | × | • | • | 0 |
| Oman | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | × | • | × | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | GS | • | • | GS | • | 3 |
| Pakistan | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | • | • | GS | • | • | • | • | • | • | × | × | × | × | • | 3 |
| Palestine | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | DQ | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 0 |
| Philippines | • | • | × | × | × | × | • | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | × | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | 13 |
| Qatar | 2nd | × | • | 4th | 3rd | 4th | GS | GS | GS | GS | • | GS | QF | • | • | • | GS | 1st | GS | SF | GS | GS | 16 |
| Saudi Arabia | × | • | 2nd | 1st | × | • | 1st | × | • | 3rd | • | 3rd | • | QF | QF | SF | GS | • | 2nd | 1st | GS | 2nd | 15 |
| Singapore | • | • | • | • | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 18 |
| South Korea | 1st | 1st | • | GS | GS | 1st | 2nd | GS | 1st | 1st | GS | 1st | 1st | 3rd | SF | SF | 1st | GS | GS | 2nd | SF | SF | 40 |
| South Yemen | × | • | • | × | • | × | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Sri Lanka | × | × | × | GS | × | • | × | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | × | • | × | × | • | • | • | • | 10 |
| Syria | × | • | • | • | 2nd | 3rd | • | 1st | GS | • | • | QF | 4th | • | GS | GS | QF | × | • | • | GS | GS | 12 |
| Tajikistan | | | | | | | × | × | • | • | • | • | • | GS | GS | • | • | • | QF | QF | GS | • | 5 |
| Thailand | 4th | • | 4th | • | • | • | GS | 3rd | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | GS | QF | GS | QF | • | GS | 34 |
| Timor-Leste | | | | | | | | | | | | | | × | × | DQ | × | × | × | • | • | • | 0 |
| Turkmenistan | | | | | | | × | × | • | • | • | • | •• | • | • | × | • | • | • | • | • | • | 0 |
| United Arab Emirates | × | 4th | 3rd | • | 4th | • | 4th | • | 3rd | • | GS | QF | • | GS | 1st | QF | GS | QF | GS | GS | • | • | 14 |
| Uzbekistan | | | | | | | × | × | • | • | • | 4th | QF | • | 2nd | QF | SF | SF | QF | • | 1st | QF | 9 |
| Vietnam | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | × | • | • | • | GS | GS | GS | • | GS | GS | GS | SF | GS | GS | • | 20 |
| Yemen | × | • | × | × | × | • | • | × | × | • | • | • | GS | • | GS | GS | • | GS | GS | • | • | GS | 7 |

## Summary (1959–2023)

| Rank | Team | Part | M | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| 1 | South Korea | 39 | 190 | 112 | 46 | 32 | 376 | 150 | +226 | 382 |
| 2 | Japan | 38 | 173 | 74 | 33 | 66 | 304 | 236 | +68 | 255 |
| 3 | Myanmar | 19 | 94 | 60 | 15 | 19 | 242 | 84 | +158 | 195 |
| 4 | Iran | 21 | 92 | 55 | 17 | 20 | 189 | 74 | +115 | 182 |
| 5 | Thailand | 33 | 138 | 52 | 24 | 62 | 227 | 214 | +13 | 180 |
| 6 | Iraq | 18 | 81 | 41 | 21 | 19 | 156 | 80 | +76 | 144 |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 15 | 72 | 43 | 13 | 16 | 146 | 79 | +67 | 142 |
| 9 | Malaysia | 23 | 88 | 35 | 13 | 41 | 159 | 161 | −2 | 118 |
| 10 | China | 19 | 76 | 31 | 19 | 26 | 109 | 95 | +14 | 112 |
| 11 | North Korea | 13 | 65 | 31 | 15 | 19 | 98 | 61 | +37 | 108 |
| 12 | Indonesia | 18 | 73 | 27 | 14 | 32 | 115 | 123 | −8 | 95 |
| 13 | Qatar | 15 | 62 | 28 | 9 | 25 | 98 | 99 | −1 | 93 |
| 14 | India | 22 | 80 | 22 | 16 | 42 | 95 | 145 | −50 | 82 |
| 15 | Syria | 11 | 47 | 22 | 9 | 16 | 71 | 50 | +21 | 75 |
| 16 | Uzbekistan | 8 | 40 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 62 | 45 | +17 | 72 |
| 17 | Vietnam$^2$ | 20 | 69 | 19 | 13 | 37 | 74 | 142 | −68 | 70 |
| 18 | United Arab Emirates | 14 | 56 | 18 | 15 | 23 | 83 | 80 | +3 | 69 |
| 19 | Hong Kong | 16 | 60 | 20 | 9 | 31 | 96 | 132 | −36 | 69 |
| 20 | Australia | 8 | 34 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 57 | 36 | +21 | 58 |
| 21 | Singapore | 18 | 67 | 16 | 7 | 44 | 79 | 190 | −111 | 55 |
| 22 | Bahrain | 9 | 37 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 47 | 44 | +3 | 52 |
| 23 | Kuwait | 8 | 36 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 49 | 44 | +5 | 51 |
| 24 | Jordan | 8 | 29 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 56 | −32 | 22 |
| 25 | Chinese Taipei | 10 | 35 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 98 | −68 | 21 |
| 26 | Philippines | 13 | 46 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 32 | 161 | −129 | 18 |
| 27 | Laos | 5 | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 20 | 29 | −9 | 16 |
| 28 | Tajikistan | 5 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 30 | −15 | 16 |
| 29 | Yemen$^3$ | 7 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 19 | 45 | −26 | 15 |
| 30 | Sri Lanka | 10 | 36 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 35 | 152 | −117 | 14 |
| 31 | Cambodia | 3 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 26 | −12 | 10 |
| 32 | Pakistan | 3 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 35 | −23 | 9 |
| 33 | Kazakhstan | 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 25 | −10 | 8 |
| 34 | Bangladesh | 6 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 53 | −43 | 8 |
| 35 | Lebanon | 2 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 13 | −8 | 6 |
| 36 | Oman | 3 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 20 | −17 | 4 |
| 37 | Kyrgyzstan | 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | −11 | 3 |
| 38 | Nepal | 4 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 47 | −41 | 3 |
| 39 | Afghanistan | 3 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 31 | −27 | 2 |
| 40 | New Zealand$^4$ | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 13 | −11 | 0 |
| 41 | Brunei | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 94 | −91 | 0 |
$^1$ No longer an AFC member.
$^2$ Represented South Vietnam from 1959 to 1974.
$^3$ Representing South Yemen in 1975 and North Yemen in 1978.
$^4$ Not an AFC member: participated in tournament as part of intercontinental play-off to qualify for the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship.

## FIFA U-20 World Cup performances
### Legend

* 1st – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* 3rd – Third place
* 4th – Fourth place
* QF – Quarter-finals
* R2 – Round 2
* R1 – Round 1
* – Hosts
* – Not affiliated to AFC
* q – Qualified for upcoming tournament
| Team | 1977 | 1979 | 1981 | 1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2023 | 2025 | Total |
| Australia | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | OFC member | | R1 | R1 | R1 | | | | | q | 4 |
| Bahrain | | | | | | R1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| China | | | | R1 | QF | | | | | | R1 | | R2 | | R2 | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| Indonesia | | R1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Iran | R1 | | | | | | | | | | | | R1 | | | | | | | | R1 | | | | 3 |
| Iraq | R1 | | | | | | QF | | | | | | R1 | | | | | | 4th | | | | R1 | | 5 |
| Japan | | R1 | | | | | | | | QF | QF | 2nd | R1 | QF | R2 | R2 | | | | | R2 | R2 | R1 | q | 12 |
| Jordan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R1 | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Kazakhstan | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | | | | R1 | | UEFA member | UEFA member | UEFA member | UEFA member | UEFA member | UEFA member | UEFA member | UEFA member | UEFA member | UEFA member | UEFA member | 1 |
| Malaysia | | | | | | | | | | | R1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Myanmar | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R1 | | | | | 1 |
| North Korea | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R1 | | R1 | | R1 | | | | | 3 |
| Qatar | | | 2nd | | | | | | | R1 | | | | | | | | | | R1 | | R1 | | | 4 |
| Saudi Arabia | | | | | R1 | R1 | R1 | | R1 | | | R1 | | R1 | | | | R2 | | | R2 | R1 | | q | 10 |
| South Korea | | R1 | R1 | 4th | | | | QF | R1 | | R1 | R1 | | R2 | R1 | R1 | QF | R2 | QF | | R2 | 2nd | 4th | q | 17 |
| Syria | | | | | | | R1 | QF | | R1 | | | | | R2 | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| United Arab Emirates | | | | | | | | | | | R2 | | | QF | | | QF | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Uzbekistan | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | Part of Soviet Union | | | | | | R1 | | | R1 | | QF | QF | | | R2 | | 5 |
| Vietnam | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | R1 | | | | 1 |