Each team registered a squad of 18 to 23 players, including a minimum of three goalkeepers (Regulations Article 26.3).

In the knockout stage, extra time and penalty shoot-out were used to decide the winner if necessary.

The Indonesia U-23 national football team accused Kabirov of being biased towards Qatar, with Qatar receiving favourable decisions, while Indonesia was repeatedly scrutinized by Kadirov which leads to red cards for Ivar Jenner and Ramadhan Sananta.

[21] Qatar took the lead in the first half with Khalid Ali Sabah scoring in the 45+1 minute through a penalty kick awarded by the referee for a foul committed by Indonesian defender Rizky Ridho against Qatari player Mahdi Salem.

[22] Initially, the referee awarded a free kick to Indonesia, but after consulting VAR, he ruled in favor of Qatar, leading to protests from the Indonesian players.

[22] Indonesian national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong expressed his outrage over the poor refereeing decisions: Congratulations to Qatar.

However, many of the referee's decisions throughout the game, if you look at them, it's not a football match, it's a comedy show and highly exaggerated.

[22]Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has also sent a protest letter to AFC due to controversial decisions from referee Nasrullo Kabirov.

[23] Sivakorn Pu-udom, the Thai referee who officiated the match, was highlighted due to the controversies on second-half injury time.

VAR had intervened, but Pu-Udom was reluctant to look directly through the television screen on the side of the field.