First Round:

The first round of qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 took place more than three years ago in March 2015.

Sunil Chhetri netted twice for India in a 2-0 home victory over Nepal in Guwahati and the South Asians advanced to the next stage by the same scoreline after a scoreless draw in the second leg in Guwahati.

Elsewhere, Yemen overcame Pakistan, while there were also wins for Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste, who all advanced to the second round of qualifying.

A frenetic final day of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 saw DPR Korea, the Philippines and Yemen taking the last three available spots on Tuesday.

Kyrgyz Republic ended their campaign with a 2-1 win over India in Group A but they had sealed their place in the Finals after defeating Myanmar 5-1 last Thursday.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the three teams who have taken their place among the Continent’s best for next January’s extravaganza in the United Arab Emirates.

In line with previous editions of the AFC Asian Cup, the hosts United Arab Emirates have been allocated the first position in pot one in the draw to be held at the Armani Hotel in the UAE’s iconic Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. This will ensure they will play the opening match on January 5, 2019, at the Zayed Sports City Stadium.

The 12 teams, who received an automatic bye into the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 after qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 - Asian Qualifiers Final Round, have already secured their places in pots one and two and have been allocated spots following Thursday’s publication of the latest FIFA ranking.

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.

From the dominance of Korea Republic in the early years of the competition, the AFC Asian Cup became the preserve of the Islamic Republic of Iran who won three consecutive tournaments from 1968 to 1976.

September 1, 1956 marked a major milestone in Asian football history as host nation Hong Kong and Israel kicked-off the first ever match in the continent’s flagship tournament, with approximately 30,000 spectators in attendance at the Government Stadium for the seminal moment.

The fans at the venue, which in 1994 would be redeveloped in to the Hong Kong Stadium, had just 12 minutes to wait for the competition’s first goal and it was Hong Kong’s Chang Chi Kong who wrote his name in the annals of Asian football lore with the inaugural strike.

The hosts would hold the lead until the 37th minute when Yehoshua Glazer scored, and although Chang would put his side back in front shortly after the hour mark, their advantage would last just ten minutes, Nahum Stelmach drawing Israel level before Glazer’s second of the game in the 76th minute denied Hong Kong the historic first victory.

Five days later Hong Kong were in action again as Korea Republic made their Asian Cup debut but despite taking a 2-0 lead in the first half, the Koreans battled back to level matters after the break and earn a point that would prove pivotal in the outcome of the four-team tournament.

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.

Never before had the Southeast Asian nation qualified for the competition but Putro’s effort announced their arrival in stunning fashion and, in a tournament remembered for an array of fabulous goals, the forward's remains the standout strike and worthy of lighting up any arena.

Twenty-one years to the day since the net bulged at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium – in a game that Indonesia would eventually draw 2-2 – the-AFC.com spoke with the now Bali United manager about a goal that will live long in the memory.