Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Ali Daei is confident Islamic Republic of Iran will win the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 title.
The legendary Daei, who will play a starring role in the Final Draw of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 at the Armani Hotel in the iconic Burj Khalifa on Friday, explained his conviction:
"Iran have been Asia's top team for the last few years for a reason - the consistency of the technical team.
"There have been very few changes in the technical team's set up and the stability has allowed coach Carlos Queiroz to focus on building a formidable squad.
"Queiroz has also looked far and wide for the best players and this has had a positive effect on the national team," said the former Iran captain.
Iran are Asia's top side in the FIFA World Ranking and were also the first team from the Continent to seal a place in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, confirming their place last June.
They finished the FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers unbeaten and Daei is expecting the form to be carried into the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, with Iran lifting the trophy.
The last of Iran's three triumphs in the AFC Asian Cup was in 1976, meaning that it will be 43 years since they last won the title by the time the action in UAE 2019 kicks off in January.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Several of the most iconic names in Asian football are poised to grace the eagerly-anticipated AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Final Draw tomorrow at the Armani Hotel in the United Arab Emirates’ iconic Burj Khalifa at 7:30pm (UAE time).
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.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: United Arab Emirates legend Zuhair Bakheet is hoping his country's national team can go one better than the squad of 1996 who finished runners-up on home soil.
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."
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: From its humble beginnings in 1956, the AFC Asian Cup has developed into the Continent’s premier football tournament, bringing together the top national teams from the length and breadth of Asia to compete for one of international football’s most sought-after prizes every four years.
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.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: The draw for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 is just two days away with the six groups set to be unveiled during a glittering ceremony at the Armani Hotel Ballroom in the UAE’s iconic Burj Khalifa on Friday.
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.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: The AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 draw on Friday will see three teams making their debut in the Finals.
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.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: Server Djeparov will keenly follow the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Official Draw on Friday as the Uzbekistan legend awaits to see which teams his country will be drawn with in the Continent's showpiece football tournament.
Djeparov will join the AFC Asian Cup’s Digital Media team at the draw, when the 24 participating countries will learn their group stage opponents for next January’s tournament.
The Central Asian country’s most capped player, Djeparov will offer his exclusive insight into the proceedings at Dubai’s Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa after flying in from Tehran following his club side Esteghlal’s Hazfi Cup final a day earlier.
Currently plying his trade for the Iranian giants, Djeparov has turned out for clubs in his native Uzbekistan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, while he has also appeared for his country more than 120 times.