2019 Asian Cup: Groups, tickets, latest news and all you need to know

This year's Asian Cup is the biggest ever in terms of teams participating, with 24 nations vying to be crowned champions of Asia.

Australia arrive as the reining kings of the continent, having won the tournament on home soil in 2015.

The UAE will look to improve on their third-place finish four years ago. The hosts have never won the Asian Cup, with a second-place finish in 1996 - the last time the Emirates hosted the tournament - representing the national team's best showing at the continental showpiece.

Here is a run down of all you need to know about the tournament being held in the Emirates for only the second time.

What is it?

The Asian Cup is a quadrennial football tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation. First held in 1956, it is the second oldest continental football championship in the world after the Copa America. Australia are the reigning Asian champions following their success on home soil in 2015.

The UAE football team train ahead of the Asian Cup at New York University in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National
UAE manager Alberto Zaccheroni, centre right, talks to the players during their training session at New York University.
The UAE are the home team at the Asian Cup for the second time, with the continental tournament having previously been held here in 1996.
Zaccheroni, centre, is leading the UAE side to their biggest competition since he was appointed manager in October 2017.
The UAE are one of the best sides in Asia, having reached the semi-finals of the competition when it was last held in 2015 in Australia.
The UAE, though, received a huge setback after star player Omar Abdulrahman suffered a knee injury nearly three months ago.
The hosts have been drawn in Group A along with regional rivals Bahrain, India and Thailand.
Zaccheroni is a hugely experienced manager, having been in charge of such high-profile Serie A clubs as AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus. The Italian has also coached Japan.

When is it?

The 2019 Asian Cup will take place in the UAE from January 5 to February 1 - only the second time the Emirates has played host. The country last staged the tournament in 1996, when the national team were defeated in the final on penalties by Gulf rivals Saudi Arabia. That remains the UAE’s best Asian Cup performance to date. Four years ago, they finished third.

Where do the matches take place?

Eight venues have been chosen across three emirates to stage the 51 matches. In Abu Dhabi, matches will be played at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium and Al Nahyan Stadium, while Al Ain’s Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium will also host games. In Dubai, Al Maktoum Stadium and Rashid Stadium have been selected, as has Sharjah Stadium. The majority of the venues have undergone refurbishment ahead of the Asian Cup. Zayed Sports City will stage the opening match and the final.

Groups

Tickets

Match schedules and tickets for purchase are available at www.the-AFC.com. For group ticket packages contact groups@asiancup19.ae. Tickets start at Dh25 (student discounts apply).

Syria’s national team are mobbed by fans as they arrive in Sharjah. All images are handouts
It is Syria's first time at an Asian Cup since 2011.
Syrian players relaxing in Sharjah.
There was a relaxed atmosphere as Syria's players were welcomed to Sharjah,
Syria fans were happy to see the players.