A penalty shoot-out defeat to Saudi Arabia meant heartbreak for UAE in the final played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and Bakheet, who will play a starring role in the Final Draw of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 at the Armani Hotel Ballroom at the UAE’s iconic Burj Khalifa on Friday, is counting on the current UAE squad to lift the new trophy.

"In 1996, penalties were needed after the final ended 0-0. This was something which we hadn't wanted, although we were prepared, as Saudi Arabia had more experience in penalty shoot-outs," said Bakheet.

"In fact, I was asked to take a penalty but I refused, because I felt that I wasn't lucky."

Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ali Daei, who was top scorer the last time the tournament was held in the UAE in 1996, former China PR and Manchester City star Sun Jihai, current stars India’s Sunil Chhetri and Philip Younghusband from the Philippines will feature alongside draw conductor, AFC General Secretary, Dato’ Windsor John in selecting the teams from the four pots.

Together with UAE legend Zuhair Bakheet, whose role will be unveiled during tomorrow’s draw, the five football luminaries were specially selected to represent all the five AFC zones competing in UAE 2019, exemplifying the tournament slogan of “Bringing Asia Together.”

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.

With the Official Draw of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 UAE just two days away, the-AFC.com reviews how the competition has progressed into the Continent's most prestigious football tournament.

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.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the three sides alongside the other nine nations who will be in Pots 3 and 4 of the draw for the expanded 24-team AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

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It was an arduous campaign as 45 teams competed in a qualifying campaign that began in March 2015. Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the 12 teams who will be in Pots 1 and 2 of the draw for the expanded 24-team AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

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The 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates is set to be the largest version of the continental competition yet, with 24 teams going into the Official Draw to be held in Dubai on Friday.

As such, the-AFC.com reached out to each of the Asian Football Confederation's regions (WAFF, CAFA, SAFF, EAFF and ASEAN), for a representative to give their thoughts on the draw and how they see things potentially playing out.

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