While Asia's biggest teams took their customary place in the glittering draw in Dubai last May, there are several national sides who will be making their debuts in the Finals or returning to the Continental showpiece after having missed out on several editions.
The January 5-February 1 extravaganza promises to be a sizzling affair and the-AFC.com offers some revealing statistics from the competition's past and present.
Competing Teams
AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 - 50 Days To Go
The expanded AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 will see 24 teams vying for honours in the January 5-February 1 extravaganza.
Prize Money & New Trophy
There will be prize money at stake - USD$14.8 million - for the first time in the AFC Asian Cup. The champions, when crowned on February 1, will also lift a brand new AFC Asian Cup trophy.
Continent's Pride and Joy
AFC Asian Cup - The Pride of Asia
UAE 2019 will be the 17th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, with the first held in 1956 in Hong Kong with just four teams competing.
Stadiums
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Gallery: World class venues for world class action
Eight world class stadiums will be used with the Zayed Sports City Stadium hosting both the opening match between the UAE and Bahrain on January 5 and the final on February 1.
Debutants
Kyrgyz Republic, Philippines, Yemen will be taking their bow in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 after sizzling performances in Qualifying. South Yemen featured in the 1976 Finals before unification.
Returning Teams
India and Syria make their return after missing out on the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Thailand and Vietnam last featured in 2007 and Turkmenistan in 2004.
Previous Champions
Australia, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia are the qualifiers who have lifted the AFC Asian Cup previously. Japan have emerged champions four times, Saudi Arabia and Iran thrice, Korea Republic twice while Australia and Iraq have won the title once each.
West Asia Cast
Eleven West Asian teams - UAE, Bahrain, Syria, Palestine (pictured above), Jordan, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Lebanon and Oman - will be hoping to end the region's 12-year wait for the AFC Asian Cup, with Iraq in 2007 the last to emerge champions.
Long Wait
Korea Republic have finished in the top three nine times in their 13 previous appearances in the AFC Asian Cup. Their two title triumphs were achieved in 1956 (pictured above) and in 1960, with four runners-up finishes since.
All-time Top Scorer
IR Iran's legendary Ali Daei is the all-time leading scorer with 14 goals, scored in three editions of the AFC Asian Cup.
