The Cheer campaign is an initiative of HRH Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, the vice president of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, UAE Public Authority for Communications and the Asian Football Confederation for the visually impaired to enjoy and interact during matches.

Fifteen visually impaired fans attended the UAE's quarter-final with Australia at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain last Friday.

No Taremi for Team Melli

The major team news ahead of the semi-final is the enforced absence of Mehdi Taremi, who will miss Monday's clash through suspension having collected a second yellow card against China PR.

While card trouble has cost them the Al Gharafa star, who has scored three goals in UAE 2019, the Iranians will welcome back Vahid Amiri, while Yoshinuri Muto returns from suspension for Japan.

Outstanding yellow cards were erased following the quarter-finals, meaning only a red card in Monday's match will result in a player missing the final.

The Iranians will take on Japan in their first semi-final appearance since 2004 as Team Melli continue their quest to secure a first AFC Asian Cup title since the last of the country’s three consecutive crowns was won back in 1976.

Goals from Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun and Karim Ansarifard saw off China PR in the quarter-finals on Thursday evening in Abu Dhabi, and Jahanbakhsh is confident he and his teammates can continue their impressive run.

Iran shone brightly throughout the victory, with goals from Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun and substitute Karim Ansarifard ultimately making the difference as Queiroz’s charges reached the last four of Asia’s premier event for the first time since 2004.

Despite their impressive form – Iran have now racked up four wins and five successive clean sheets – Queiroz remains adamant that the three-time champions of Asia are still not one of the tournament’s leading contenders ahead of next Monday’s semi-final showdown with Japan in Al Ain.

Milligan has close links with the hosts, having spent two seasons playing club football in the UAE and he praised Alberto Zaccheroni’s side after they eliminated the defending champions.

The UAE saw off the Socceroos when Ali Mabkhout capitalised on an error by Milos Degenek to score the only goal of the game and avenge a semi-final defeat at the hands of Australia four years ago.

Ali Mabkhout’s solitary goal midway through the second half ensured the UAE advanced to the last four for the second tournament in a row and erased the agony of losing 2-0 to the Australians in Newcastle in 2015.

Nine of Alberto Zaccheroni’s 23-man squad were involved in the last edition of the Continental Championship and veteran striker Ismaeil Matar claimed the quarter-final win over the Australians went some way towards soothing the memory of that loss.

A searing 78th-minute strike from Abdelaziz Hatim ultimately secured the win for Felix Sanchez's side, to eliminate the 2015 runners-up and make it five consecutive wins in the competition.

Ali, a breakout star in the UAE with seven goals in five matches, revealed his delight at the achievement, and said he wants his side to make further history in the competition, starting with Tuesday's semi-final against host nation United Arab Emirates.