Kuala Lumpur: Excitement is building ahead of the 17th edition of the AFC Asian Cup as 23 nations get set join hosts United Arab Emirates in the 24-team tournament. 



With the opening game between the UAE and Bahrain now just a week away, the-AFC.com has gone through the groups to pick out a fun fact per team so you can brush up on your knowledge ahead of the big kick-off.



Group A

United Arab Emirates

Hot shot: Ali Mabkhout (below) finished as the tournament’s top scorer four years ago after the striker netted five times on his country’s march to a third-place finish.

Thailand

Home comforts: The War Elephants have only once advanced from the group stage, when they came third in the 1972 edition on home soil.

Bahrain

Top showing: The West Asians’ best performance at the competition came in 2004 when they reached the semi-finals in China, before elimination to eventual winners Japan.

India

Returning stars: Only two players remain from the Blue Tigers' last appearance at the AFC Asian Cup – in 2011 – captain Sunil Chhetri and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Group B

Australia

Debut goal: Tim Cahill (below) scored the Socceroos’ first ever AFC Asian Cup goal when he equalised in the 92nd minute to secure a 1-1 draw with Oman in Bangkok in the 2007 edition.

Syria

Top shots: Omar Khribin will be among four AFC Player of the Years at the tournament, with the 2017 winner joined by China’s Zheng Zhi (2013), the UAE’s Ahmed Khalil (2015) and Qatar’s Abdelkarim Hassan (2018).

Palestine

Ever-improving: Palestine won the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup to qualify for their maiden AFC Asian Cup in 2015; they will be now be aiming to pick up their first points in the competition.
Jordan

On the up: The Chivalrous had never qualified for the continental tournament until 2004, but since then have twice reached the quarter-finals – in 2004 and 2011. 

Group C

Korea Republic

Unlucky losers: After winning the first two editions of the AFC Asian Cup – in 1956 and 1960 – the Taeguk Warriors have returned to the final four times, but lost on each occasion. They have also finished third four times.

China

Regular contenders: The East Asians’ first appearance at the tournament came back in 1976 in Iran; they have qualified for every edition since, twice finishing as runners-up (1984 and 2004).
Philippines

Worth the wait: The Azkals came within a game of reaching the 2015 edition but lost the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup final to Palestine. Phil Younghusband's 50th goal for his country (above) sealed qualification this time round.

Kyrgyz Republic

Road to success: Just over 26 years since their first competitive match as a footballing nation, the White Falcons will finally make their AFC Asian Cup bow when they play China on January 7. Group D

 
 

Islamic Republic of Iran

The treble: Iran are the only nation to have won three titles in a row, when Team Melli claimed the 1968,1972 and 1976 championships; however, they have not returned to the final since.
Iraq

Historic moment: The Lions of Mesopotamia generated global headlines in 2007 after Younis Mahmoud (above) scored the only goal of the final against Saudi Arabia as the war-torn nation claimed continental glory.

Vietnam

Sole survivor: The Golden Stars’ last appearance was a quarter-final defeat to Iraq in 2007. Twelve years on, Nguyen Anh Duc is the only player who still turns out for Vietnam and the striker will have a chance for revenge when the sides face off on January 8.

Yemen

Remarkable turnaround: Yemen lost seven of their eight games in the second round of qualifying before going unbeaten in eight between June 2016 and March 2018 to advance to their maiden AFC Asian Cup.

Group E

 
 
Saudi Arabia

Penalty kings: The final of the AFC Asian Cup has only twice been decided by penalties, and both times Saudi Arabia were the victors, defeating Korea Republic in 1988 and the UAE in 1996 (above).

Qatar

Hospitable hosts: Qatar are one of just two nations, alongside Iran, to have staged the competition twice (in 1988 and 2011). They will be joined by the UAE in 2019.

Lebanon

A new adventure: The Cedars will be appearing in their first AFC Asian Cup away from home, after previously hosting the 2000 edition, where they drew two and lost one to exit at the group stage.

DPR Korea

Flying start: DPR Korea debuted in 1980 in Kuwait, where they won three of their first four games to advance to the semi-finals; however, in three tournaments since, the Chollima have failed to win a game. Group F

 
 

Japan

Late arrivals: The Samurai Blue's first appearance in the competition was in 1988 in Qatar, where they failed to win a game. They have since won four of the past seven tournaments.
Uzbekistan

Record breakers: If either goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov (above) or midfielder Server Djeparov are selected in the Uzbek squad, they will become the first players to appear at five AFC Asian Cups.

Oman

Tough draws: Oman have appeared at three AFC Asian Cups, but have never made it past the group stage; however, each time (Japan 2004, Iraq 2007 and Australia 2015) the Reds have been drawn alongside the eventual winners.

Turkmenistan

Derby days: Turkmenistan’s last match in the competition was the first ever AFC Asian Cup Central Asian derby, when they lost to Uzbekistan in 2004. Fifteen years on, the sides will lock horns again on January 13.

 

Photos: Getty Images

Source: the-afc.com