Of the 16  teams that progressed from the group stage, four will play in the knockout stage for the very first time. Indonesia, Palestine, Syria and Tajikistan are the four sides making their debut in the Round of 16 of the tournament.

 

While Indonesia, Palestine and Syria advanced among four best third-placed teams, Group A runners-up Tajikistan became the fourth team since 2000 to get past the group stage on their debut after Kyrgyz Republic (in 2019), Australia (2007) and Jordan (2004). 

With an incredible seven saves, Thailand goalkeeper Saranon Anuin made the most stops during Matchday Three, including denying Abdullah Radif from the penalty spot as the Thais closed out their group stage run with a goalless draw against Saudi Arabia. 

 

The War Elephants are the only team, other than Qatar, who are yet to concede a goal in the tournament as they kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 win against Kyrgyz Republic before holding Oman goalless in their second outing. 

Following their 1-0 defeat of China PR in their final group fixture, Qatar have now won and kept a clean sheet in each of their last six group stage ties in the AFC Asian Cup to match Korea Republic’s best run in the continental showpiece from the 2015 and 2019 group stages. 

 

Only Islamic Republic of Iran, with seven clean sheets and wins between 2011 and 2019, have done so in more consecutive group matches in the competition’s history. 

After seven consecutive group stage fixtures without a win, Syria ended their winless run and made it to the last 16 with a hard-earned 1-0 victory against India in Group B, courtesy of an Omar Khrbin strike at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

 

The Qasioun Eagles had finished their 2019 campaign without a win and their last victory before Tuesday dated back to 2011 when they overcame Saudi Arabia 2-1 in their opening fixture. 

Malaysia got their first point against Korea Republic in 39 years as they held the East Asians to a thrilling 3-3 draw in their final Group E outing on Thursday. Coached by Korean tactician Kim Pan-gon, Malaysia earned the last-gasp draw courtesy of a Romel Morales goal in the 15th minute of second-half injury time. 

 

The last time the Harimau Malaya avoided defeat against the Koreans was during the qualification campaign for the 1986 FIFA World Cup when the Malaysians beat the Taeguk Warriors 1-0 in Kuala Lumpur. 

No player won more possession than Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al Khaibari during the final set of group stage fixtures. The Al Nassr defensive midfielder won possession 18 times during the Green Falcons’ goalless draw against Thailand at Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan. 

 

Japan’s Wataru Endo, Lebanon’s Hasan Srour and Bahrain’s Komail Al Aswad all won possession 11 times to finish joint second in the list. 

After eight games in the tournament without registering a win, Palestine posted their first-ever victory when they defeated Hong Kong, China 3-0 in their final group outing on Tuesday and the result proved enough for them to progress to their first-ever knockout stage appearance. 

 

Palestine debuted in the competition back in 2015 losing all three of their group stage ties before returning for the 2019 edition where they earned creditable draws against Syria and Jordan. 

By hitting the stunning winner against China PR on Monday, Hassan Al Haydos became the first Qatari player to score in three editions of the AFC Asian Cup. Starting from the bench, the 33-year-old came on in the 64th minute to break the deadlock only two minutes later. 

 

The Qatar captain did not play in the 2011 edition despite being a part of the squad, but netted against Bahrain in the group stage in 2015 and was also on target in a semi-final win against the United Arab Emirates as the Maroons won the title four years later. 

At 16 years, four months and nine days, Saudi Arabia forward Talal Haji became the youngest player to take to the field in the 2023 edition of the tournament when he replaced Abdullah Radif in the 64th minute of their match against Thailand. 

 

Kyrgyz Republic’s 18-year-old winger Beknaz Almazbekov is the second youngest player in the tournament followed by Iraq's Montader Madjed.