Asian Cup teams set for continental showpiece in UAE - in pictures

Japan arrive in the Emirates even as Arabian Gulf sides Yemen and Oman take part in training sessions

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  The Samurai Blue, as Japan's football team have been nicknamed, have been drawn together with Oman, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. AFP

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  This is the second time the UAE is hosting the Asian Cup. The last time was in 1996.

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  The Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi is being readied for the 2019 Asian Cup, which kicks off on Saturday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Abu Dhabi will host the tournament's opener - the Group A match between hosts UAE and regional rivals Bahrain at 8pm. Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Japan's national football team arrive at the Dubai airport ahead of their Asian Cup participation. Japan have been drawn in Group F. AFP

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  The Japanese have been crowned Asian champions four times, with their last title coming in 2011. AFP

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  The Oman national football team take part in a training session in Abu Dhabi. AFP

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  Oman have not made it past the group stage of the continental competition when they played in the 2004, 2007 and 2015 finals. AFP

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  The Yemen football team take part in a training session in Abu Dhabi. AFP

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  The Yemen side are playing in their first Asian Cup finals. AFP

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  Yemen qualified as runners-up from a group won by the Philippines and also featuring Tajikistan and Nepal. AFP

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  Striker Ahmed Khalil and his UAE teammates checked into their hotel in Abu Dhabi ahead of their Asian Cup opener.

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  The UAE finished as the third-best team during the 2015 finals when the competition was held in Australia.

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  They beat Iraq in their third-place play-off after being beaten by eventual champions Australia in the semi-finals.

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  The hosts are expected to field a strong side despite the absence of star playmaker Omar Abdulrahman.

The UAE is buzzing with Asian Cup activity as the teams arrive to play in the continental competition, which kicks off on Saturday.

The tournament, being held in the Emirates for the second time, is nearly a month long with the final scheduled for February 1. It gets under way with the Group A match between the hosts and their regional rivals Bahrain at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

You can check out pictures of teams arriving in the country and training by browsing the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

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More on Asian Cup:

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In pictures: A look back on the last time the Emirates host the Asian Cup in 1996

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Jan Kocian wants Yemen to dream of big victories at 2019 Asian Cup

Aref Al Awani: Legacy for UAE football will come from Asian Cup

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Groups:

GROUP A: UAE, Bahrain, India, Thailand

GROUP B: Australia, Syria, Jordan, Palestine

GROUP C: South Korea, China, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines

GROUP D: Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, Yemen

GROUP E: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon, North Korea

GROUP F: Japan, Uzbekistan, Oman, Turkmenistan