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.

First Round:

The first round of qualifiers for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 took place more than three years ago in March 2015.

Sunil Chhetri netted twice for India in a 2-0 home victory over Nepal in Guwahati and the South Asians advanced to the next stage by the same scoreline after a scoreless draw in the second leg in Guwahati.

Elsewhere, Yemen overcame Pakistan, while there were also wins for Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste, who all advanced to the second round of qualifying.

As excitement for the continental competition starts to build, the-AFC.com picks out some of the key statistics from a tournament which boasts a proud history dating all the way back to 1956.

The site - http://stats.the-afc.com/ - is a one stop centre for everything connected to Asian football.

The statistics page features all competitions organised by the AFC - stretching as far back as the inaugural AFC Asian Cup in 1956.

Fans can track the performance of their favourite teams - be it in the AFC Asian Cup, Women's Asian Cup, the AFC Champions League, the AFC Cup or the numerous age-group Championships organised by the AFC in its continuous efforts to raise the standard of Asian Football - over the years on the statistics page.

Thailand’s last appearance at the continental competition was as co-hosts in 2007, while the only time the Southeast Asian nation have gone beyond the first round was back in 1972 when, again as hosts, they finished third in the six-team tournament.

There were wild celebrations in Kyrgyz Republic, the Philippines and Yemen recently when those nations secured their historic qualifications.

All three are now eagerly anticipating the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2019 Official Draw, to be held in Dubai on May 4, and The-AFC.com spoke to players from the three debutants to get their thoughts on the draw and ask what qualification meant to their respective countries.

Italian Zaccheroni led the East Asians to their last continental title back in 2011 during four years at the helm of the Samurai Blue before stepping down following the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

After a short stint in China with Beijing Guoan in 2016, Zaccheroni was tempted back into international management in October last year as the UAE entrusted the former AC Milan and Juventus head coach as the man to bring glory to the Gulf state on home soil in early 2019.