Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: As the Continent awaits the eagerly-anticipated Final Draw on Friday, the-afc.com looks back at the last time the competition was held in the UAE in 1996 when Saudi Arabia clinched their third title in Abu Dhabi following a penalty shootout victory over the host nation.
The last of Saudi Arabia’s AFC Asian Cup successes came in 1996, when the Green Falcons won the title in Abu Dhabi following a penalty shootout victory over the hosts, the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabia were heavy favourites going into the tournament, having reached the final in the last three editions and winning two of them.
The desire to make amends for the defeat in the 1992 final against Japan added to the pressure on the team. With expectations riding high, it was going to be a difficult challenge for Portuguese coach Nelo Vingada who had only taken charge of the Green Falcons two months prior to the tournament opener.
Without having ever coached outside his home country, Vingada had a lot to prove in a very short period of time. However, if anyone had any doubts about the quality of this Saudi team, the performance in their opening match against Thailand was enough to dispel them.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Footballing legend Zuhair Bakheet will play a central role as the focus of the Asian football community shifts its attention to the Armani Hotel Ballroom at the UAE’s iconic Burj Khalifa on Friday for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Final Draw.
Zuhair will be the link between the tournament that will kick off on January 5, 2019 and the last time the AFC Asian Cup was held in the UAE - 22 years ago when he was the Emirati's star striker.
Zuhair, who played in three Asian Cups as well as the FIFA World Cup in Italy in 1990, is a firm favourite with the local crowds after a stellar career with Dubai club Al Wasl. And again on Friday he will 'lead the line' when he heads a cast of legendary players from across Asia and the five AFC regions as well as the head coaches, officials and dignitaries from all 24 participating teams.
Four pots each containing six teams will be emptied by the draw assistants and placed into the six groups (Group A to F). Hosts UAE, who will occupy the first position in Pot 1, will kick-off the tournament on January 5, 2019 at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, which is also the venue where the ultimate champions of Asia will be crowned on February 1, 2019.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: The draw for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 is just two days away with the six groups set to be unveiled during a glittering ceremony at the Armani Hotel Ballroom in the UAE’s iconic Burj Khalifa on Friday.
It was an arduous campaign as 45 teams competed in a qualifying campaign that began in March 2015. Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the 12 teams who will be in Pots 1 and 2 of the draw for the expanded 24-team AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: The AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 draw on Friday will see three teams making their debut in the Finals.
Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the three sides alongside the other nine nations who will be in Pots 3 and 4 of the draw for the expanded 24-team AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: From its humble beginnings in 1956, the AFC Asian Cup has developed into the Continent’s premier football tournament, bringing together the top national teams from the length and breadth of Asia to compete for one of international football’s most sought-after prizes every four years.
With the Official Draw of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 UAE just two days away, the-AFC.com reviews how the competition has progressed into the Continent's most prestigious football tournament.
The tournament had its roots in the formation of the Asian Football Confederation in Manila in 1954. The 12 founding members of the AFC sought to shape the development of the game in Asia and one of the keys to achieving that aim was the organisation of a regional competition for the continent’s national sides.
Some two years later, the first ever AFC Asian Cup was staged in Hong Kong with eight Member Associations vying for the right to be declared champions of Asia.
Over half a century later, the AFC Asian Cup has grown to encompass teams from throughout the continent and has become the barometer by which the continually changing balance of power in Asian football is measured.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: With the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Official Draw now just days away, we sought the views of five football experts from across the continent.
The 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates is set to be the largest version of the continental competition yet, with 24 teams going into the Official Draw to be held in Dubai on Friday.
As such, the-AFC.com reached out to each of the Asian Football Confederation's regions (WAFF, CAFA, SAFF, EAFF and ASEAN), for a representative to give their thoughts on the draw and how they see things potentially playing out.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Server Djeparov will keenly follow the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Official Draw on Friday as the Uzbekistan legend awaits to see which teams his country will be drawn with in the Continent's showpiece football tournament.
Djeparov will join the AFC Asian Cup’s Digital Media team at the draw, when the 24 participating countries will learn their group stage opponents for next January’s tournament.
The Central Asian country’s most capped player, Djeparov will offer his exclusive insight into the proceedings at Dubai’s Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa after flying in from Tehran following his club side Esteghlal’s Hazfi Cup final a day earlier.
Currently plying his trade for the Iranian giants, Djeparov has turned out for clubs in his native Uzbekistan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, while he has also appeared for his country more than 120 times.