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. 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 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. 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. <strong>GROUP A: </strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/2019-asian-cup-group-a-teams-fixtures-and-key-players-1.808250">UAE, Bahrain, India, Thailand</a> <strong>GROUP B: </strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/2019-asian-cup-group-b-teams-fixtures-and-key-players-1.808248">Australia, Syria, Jordan, Palestine</a> <strong>GROUP C: </strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/2019-asian-cup-group-c-teams-fixtures-and-key-players-1.808243">South Korea, China, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines</a> <strong>GROUP D: </strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/2019-asian-cup-group-d-teams-fixtures-and-key-players-1.808242">Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, Yemen</a> <strong>GROUP E: </strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/2019-asian-cup-group-e-teams-fixtures-and-key-players-1.808238">Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, North Korea</a> <strong>GROUP F: </strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/2019-asian-cup-group-f-teams-fixtures-and-previous-appearances-1.808235">Japan, Uzbekistan, Oman, Turkmenistan</a> Match schedules and tickets for purchase are available at <a href="http://www.the-afc.com/" target="_blank">www.the-AFC.com</a>. For group ticket packages contact <a href="mailto:groups@asiancup19.ae" target="_blank">groups@asiancup19.ae</a>. Tickets start at Dh25 (student discounts apply). <strong>'Need for speed': <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/need-for-speed-new-look-australia-target-back-to-back-asian-cups-1.808887">New-look Australia target back-to-back Asian Cups</a></strong> <strong>Aref Al Awani Q&A: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/aref-al-awani-q-a-asian-cup-in-uae-a-chance-to-bring-people-together-through-football-1.808884">Asian Cup in UAE a chance to bring people together through football</a></strong> <strong>In pictures: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/uae-train-ahead-of-asian-cup-in-abu-dhabi-in-pictures-1.808852">UAE train ahead of Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi</a></strong> <strong>In pictures: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/asian-cup-in-the-uae-a-look-back-on-the-last-time-the-emirates-played-host-in-1996-in-pictures-1.808654#1">A look back on the last time the Emirates host the Asian Cup in 1996</a></strong> <strong>Son Heung-min can ignite South Korea: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/son-heung-min-can-ignite-south-korea-five-players-to-watch-at-the-asian-cup-1.808608">Five players to watch at the Asian Cup</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/bernd-stange-counting-on-syria-fans-to-carry-team-through-2019-asian-cup-group-phase-1.808218">Bernd Stange counting on Syria fans to carry team through 2019 Asian Cup group phase</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/jan-kocian-wants-yemen-to-dream-of-big-victories-at-2019-asian-cup-1.808220">Jan Kocian wants Yemen to dream of big victories at 2019 Asian Cup</a></strong> <strong>Aref Al Awani: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/aref-al-awani-legacy-for-uae-football-will-come-from-asian-cup-1.808195">Legacy for UAE football will come from Asian Cup</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/celtic-asked-that-he-be-rested-graham-arnold-on-why-tom-rogic-did-not-play-for-australia-against-oman-in-dubai-1.807919">Celtic asked that he be rested: Arnold on why Rogic did not play for Australia against Oman</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/2019-asian-cup-sven-goran-eriksson-s-new-year-wish-to-grow-interest-in-football-in-philippines-1.807944">Sven-Goran Eriksson's New Year wish to grow interest in football in Philippines</a></strong> <strong>In pictures: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/australia-thrash-oman-5-0-in-dubai-friendly-ahead-of-2019-asian-cup-in-pictures-1.807823">Australia thrash Oman 5-0 in Dubai friendly ahead of 2019 Asian Cup</a></strong> <strong>Stephen Constantine: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/stephen-constantine-backs-massive-underdogs-india-to-be-competitive-at-asian-cup-1.808882">India manager backs 'massive underdogs' to spring a surprise</a></strong> <strong>Aref Al Awani Q&A: <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/aref-al-awani-q-a-asian-cup-in-uae-a-chance-to-bring-people-together-through-football-1.808884">Asian Cup in UAE a chance to bring people together through football</a></strong>