| Event: | Football |
| Games: | 2006 Asian Games |
| Venues: | Al-Wakrah Stadium Al-Ahli Stadium Al-Sadd Stadium Al-Gharafa Stadium Al-Rayyan Stadium Al-Arabi Stadium Qatar SC Stadium |
| Dates: | 18 November – 15 December |
| Competitors: | 697 |
| Nations: | 29 |
| Gold: | |
| Silver: | |
| Bronze: | |
| Prev: | 2002 |
| Next: | 2010 |
Football at the 2006 Asian Games was held in Doha, Qatar from 18 November to 15 December 2006. The opening match was played 14 days prior to the opening ceremony. In this tournament, some 30 teams played in the men's competition, and 8 teams participated in women's competition.
Turkmenistan,[1] and Yemen withdrew from the competition before playing their first match. The organisation announced a new competition format because of this. Instead of only the group winners of the first round to go through to the second round, now also both runners-up qualified.[2]
Later India also announced their retirement, however they remained in the tournament on a "no cost to government basis".[3] Iran was taken out of competition prior to their first match, due to a suspension by FIFA.[4] [5] However, FIFA lifted the suspension on Iran under-23 team on 26 November 2006 so they returned to the original Group D stage.[6]
Age limit for the men teams is under-23, same as the age limit in football competitions in Olympic Games, while three overage players are allowed among each squad.
There are 3 host cities, including 7 stadiums hosted the tournament.
| Qatar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| City | Stadium | Capacity | |
| Doha | Al-Gharafa Stadium | 25,000 | |
| Al-Ahli Stadium | 20,000 | ||
| Qatar SC Stadium | |||
| Al-Sadd Stadium | 15,000 | ||
| Al-Arabi Stadium | 13,000 | ||
| Al Rayyan | Al-Rayyan Stadium | 25,000 | |
| Al Wakrah | Al-Wakrah Stadium | 20,000 | |
| Q | Qualification | P | Preliminary round | ¼ | Quarterfinals | ½ | Semifinals | B | Bronze medal match | G | Gold medal match |
| Event↓/Date → | 18th Sat | 19th Sun | 20th Mon | 21st Tue | 22nd Wed | 23rd Thu | 24th Fri | 25th Sat | 26th Sun | 27th Mon | 28th Tue | 29th Wed | 30th Thu | 1st Fri | 2nd Sat | 3rd Sun | 4th Mon | 5th Tue | 6th Wed | 7th Thu | 8th Fri | 9th Sat | 10th Sun | 11th Mon | 12th Tue | 13th Wed | 14th Thu | 15th Fri | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q | Q | Q | P | P | P | P | P | P | ¼ | ½ | B | G | ||||||||||||||||||
| P | P | P | ½ | B | G | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
The draw ceremony for the team sports was held on 7 September 2006 at Doha.
Eight teams who did not enter 2002 had to play in Round 1; 22 other teams qualify directly for the tournament proper.
* Turkmenistan and Yemen withdrew from the competition and were replaced by 2nd placed teams from Round 1.
* Maldives withdrew, following this Thailand moved to Group A to balance the number of teams in each group.
See main article: Football at the 2006 Asian Games – Squads.
Scholars suggest that the 2006 Asian Games had long-term consequences for Qatar by boosting its tourist economy, aiding in economic diversification away from oil, and encouraging infrastructural development, while anticipating Qatar's bid for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[7]