Asia’s record five representatives at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia maintained their stronghold to stay within the top five with Iran retaining their season’s best in 29th place. Team Melli, whose last of three AFC Asian Cup triumphs was in 1976, are in Group D with Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen.

Despite falling five places from June this year, defending champions Australia, who are in Group B alongside Jordan, Syria and Palestine, find themselves in 41st position and will land in the UAE as Asia’s second ranked team.

With just 11 days to go before the Continental showpiece kicks off, Pizzi said the players selected are the best to carry Saudi Arabia's challenge in UAE 2019.

"We have been watching and evaluating the performance of each player with his club and we examined all possibilities as to what they can provide to the team.

"We also took into consideration whether they participated in previous training camps and know the way the technical staff work," said Pizzi to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation website.

The Oman Football Association has called up Ammar Al Rashidi to replace veteran Al Habsi, the team captain who has been a mainstay in all previous AFC Asian Cup campaigns for the West Asian side.

His absence will be a blow to Oman, who were aiming to build on their 2017 Gulf Cup success in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

Syria, drawn in Group B, are determined to make an impact in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 after their 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia adventure, where they came within two matches of advancing to the Inter-Continental Playoff.

Ahmad Ibrahim (pictured above) opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for the West Asians, but China made sure they went into the break level as star striker Wu Lei equalised two minutes before the half-time whistle.

However, it was 2007 AFC Asian Cup winners Iraq who prevailed, courtesy of Ali’s goal in the 69th minute.

In the squad named by head coach Alberto Zaccheroni, 2015 AFC Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil and Ali Makbhout will be leading the charge for goals in a team that will be missing the talismanic Omar Abdulrahman.

Abdulrahman was ruled out earlier after suffering a season ending knee injury in October.

True to the tournament’s slogan of ‘Bringing Asia Together,’ a wide range of product lines with the aim to appeal to football fans and consumers of all ages, both for men and women, have been commissioned from across the 24 participating nations.

AFC General Secretary Dato’ Windsor John said: “Merchandise plays a fundamental role to engage sporting fans and in raising awareness during all major competitions. The range of AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 merchandise has been deliberately designed to be as diverse as possible to give fans from all teams a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of this AFC Asian Cup.”