Hosts Qatar are in Group A with United Arab Emirates, Yemen and Iraq, while defending champions Oman, 10-time winners Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are in Group B.

The top two sides from each group will advance to the semi-finals with the final on December 8 at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Qualifying action for the two premier competitions will resume on March 26 as the players - depending on where they play their club football - either return to their teams or get some much needed break.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at five talking points at this stage of a thrilling Asian Qualifiers.

Syria made it five wins from five to seize control of Group A as the West Asians will take a whopping eight-point lead into 2020 after defeating Philippines 1-0.

Turkmenistan will also head into the new year as Group H leaders, with their 1-0 win over Sri Lanka and the Lebanon-DPR Korea tie ending in a goalless stalemate giving the Central Asian side a one-point lead.

The Asian Qualifiers will resume on March 26.

Afif scored the winning goal from the penalty spot 14 minutes from time as the Asian champions were made to work hard in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualification tie by a resilient Afghanistan at the Republican Central Stadium.

Ward Salama’s first-half goal proved the difference at Dubai’s Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium as Syria reinforced their position at the top of the Group A standings by going eight points clear of second-placed China PR.

With progress through to the next phase of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying – and a place at the AFC Asian Cup China 2023 – now tantalisingly close, Ebrahim is adamant that Syria fully deserve to be where they are.

The point kept Iraq top of the standings on 11 points, two ahead of Bahrain and five in front of Islamic Republic of Iran going into 2020.

The Iraq head coach said it was, given the circumstances a good result as the West Asians ended 2019 unbeaten in the Asian Qualifiers, having defeated Iran 2-1 on Matchday Five.

India collected three points from five matches, with both their defeats inflicted by Oman and head coach Stimac said the South Asian side's major issue had been their inability to score from open play in their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 qualifying campaign.