Russian showpiece will be put to the back of Middle Eastern football fans’ minds thanks to today’s draw for the 2019 Asian Cup.
Taking place in Dubai we will learn exactly what the region’s teams will have to do to win the second oldest continental tournament in the world next January.
Six groups of four will be pulled out of the hat, with the top two from each pool going through, as well as the best four third-placed teams. The 24 nations have been divided into four seeding pots, meaning that the big guns such as Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea will avoid each other. Here we give you the lowdown on what the region’s teams will be hoping to get from today’s draw.
POT 1
SAUDI ARABIA
The Green Falcons have quite a history in the competition, winning three times and appearing in six out of seven finals from 1984 to 2007 when they lost to Iraq in Jakarta. The past two tournaments have not been quite as impressive, however, with group-stage exits. Coach Juan Antonio Pizzi will be hoping a good World Cup showing will provide a springboard to great success next January. With the tournament taking place in the UAE, fans will be hoping for a first continental title since 1996, which was won, as luck would have it, in the UAE.
Key player: Fahad Al-Muwallad — the Spanish-based winger has the ability to unlock any Asian defense.
Team to avoid: Syria — No defender will relish facing Saudi-based strikers Omar Khribin and Omar Al-Somah.
UAE
The hosts have been the dictionary definition of inconsistent recently. They followed up third at the 2015 Asian Cup with the huge disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup. This tournament is a perfect opportunity to kick that despair into Row Z with the event taking place on home soil. Some questions remain over coach Alberto Zaccheroni and the performance of his star player Omar Abdulrahman. But home advantage should see the team into the later stages where anything can happen — including a repeat of their appearance in the final in 1996.
Key player: Omar Abdulrahman — on home soil the playmaker could take some stopping.
Team to avoid: Of all the teams in pot four, Jordan can be the most frustrating opponent.
POT 2
SYRIA
Despite not playing at home during World Cup qualification, Syria almost made it to Russia. The team has attacking talent most Asian teams would welcome with open arms. They are hard to beat, and will be looking to go far.
Key player: Omar Khribin — the 2017 Asian Player of the Year will be looking to grab the golden boot.
Team to avoid: Saudi Arabia — the players know each other too well.
IRAQ
The 2007 champions reached the semifinals in 2015 and certainly enjoy playing in the tournament. The team’s talent is matched only by their unpredictability. Coming off a disappointing World Cup qualification campaign, Iraq can go far if they hit form at the right time.
Key player: Ali Adnan — the left-sided star struggled to settle in Italy at first, but is now finding his feet with Udinese.
Team to avoid: Australia — Iraq have struggled against the Socceroos.
POT 3
LEBANON
Looked good in qualification, the Cedars will be targeting a place in the last 16.
Key player: Hassan Maatouk — the captain’s goals took Lebanon to their first Asian Cup since 2000.
Team to avoid: North Korea — they know them well from qualifying and are better than their ranking of 112.
PALESTINE
The team impressed in qualification for a second-straight appearance, scoring lots of goals.
Key player: Jonathan Cantillana — the Chilean-born midfielder has been looking very good and is the heartbeat of the team.
Team to avoid: Japan — the Samurai Blue have won the tournament a record four times.
OMAN
Even with an almost perfect qualification campaign, the Gulf Cup champions may be able to fly under the radar and get past the group stage for the first time.
Key player: Khalid Al-Hajjri — the striker plays in the UAE league and has taken to international football very well.
Team to avoid: South Korea — Oman boss Pim Verbeek will be wary of his former team.
POT 4
BAHRAIN
The team strolled through qualification though the group was not the most challenging. Not the force of the previous decade, but have a chance to get to the latter stages.
Key player: Waleed Al-Hayam — A solid defense helped the team to the UAE and Al-Hayam barely put a foot wrong.
Team to avoid: Iran — Asia’s highest-ranked team have a good record against Bahrain.
JORDAN
An awkward team to play against. Topped their qualifying group without losing a game.
Key player: Hamza Al-Dardour — the forward is only 26, but already had 53 caps. Jordan will need his goals.
Team to avoid: Australia — lost 5-1 in 2016 to the Asian champions.
YEMEN
It was a fine achievement for the country to qualify for the first time especially having to play all games away.
Key player: Mohammed Ebrahim Ayash — the goalkeeper was the star man during qualification, and will be need to be at his best in the UAE.
Team to avoid: Yemen will not care and will simply be delighted to be at the tournament.
