It promises to be a thrilling competition and the-AFC.com previews the Group A challenge which will feature home team Port Futsal, who will be making a comeback to the tournament, debutants Star FS Seoul, Shenzhen Nanling Tielang and FC EREM.

With less than a week to go before the tournament begins at the Bangkok Arena on August 7, the-AFC.com takes a trip down memory lane as we look at the winners of the previous nine editions of the AFC Futsal Club Championship.

To mark its commemorative milestone, the-AFC.com celebrates the remarkable progress of club futsal in Asia.

Over the years, there were many classic encounters which saw entertaining draws or a shock result, here’s our pick of the top five.

Vamos made their debut in 2017 and reached the quarter-finals of the Continental club competition for the first time last year before bowing out to Iraq’s Nafit Al Wasat in a 7-4 thriller at GOR UNY in Yogyakarta.

Having learnt from their 2018 experience, confidence is running high in the team and 25-year-old Al Fajri, who made his national team debut in 2016, believes the Mataram-based club can improve on their quarter-final finish.

Asia’s top 16 futsal clubs identified their group rivals at Thursday’s official AFC Futsal Club Championship Thailand 2019 Draw in Kuala Lumpur.

Mes Sungun continued IR Iran’s proud record in the competition when they became the fourth Iranian club to win the Continental club championship.

They join the ranks of Foolad Mahan (2010), Giti Pasand Isfahan (2012) and Tasisat Daryaei (2015).

Mes Sungun started their campaign as title favourites despite being newcomers in the tournament. The club followed the script and marched easily into the Knockout Stage.

Javid also emerged the top scorer with 12 goals, ahead of Mes Sungun Varzagan’s Hossein Tayebibidgoli and Bluewave Chonburi Suphawut Thueanklang who both scored eight goals.

The awards are Javid’s first in the AFC Futsal Club Championship, having emerged top scorer at the Asian Indoor Games in 2009 and 2017 for Islamic Republic of Iran.

Javid’s hat-trick inspired Beirut to a 5-3 Victory over Iraq’s Nafit Al Wasat in the third-place playoff on Sunday. The marksman had found the net in every match for Bank of Beirut as he ended the tournament with his third hat-trick.

"I want to thank the entire Bank of Beirut family, the coaching staff and my teammates who have helped me throughout this tournament. Without them, I would not have achieved what I have today.

"I'm very happy to win the MVP, it was a difficult tournament for Bank of Beirut but we won third place today. All the goals I scored were for my team and that's a very good achievement for me. Congratulations to all the Bank of Beirut fans, I love you all.

"There will be no rest for me. In two weeks' time, I will be back home and playing in the Iranian Futsal Super League with Giti Pasand," said Javid.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s Nafit Al Wasat - who finished fourth - received The Fair Play Award.

Nafit had been outstanding throughout the tournament, showing tremendous fighting spirit.

Photo: AFC