Qatar finished in third place at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in China PR having missed out on a place at the Olympic Games two years earlier when they lost to Iraq in the third place play-off.

A total of 16 teams will look to succeed Uzbekistan following their 2-1 triumph over Vietnam two years ago and Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, the AFC President, has sent his best wishes to the Continent’s future stars.

Group B contenders, Qatar, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Syria, will kick off their campaigns in Bangkok on January 9, but before the teams cross paths, join the-AFC.com as we explore how they got here.

The top two sides in Group B will qualify for the quarter-finals, while the tournament’s top three finishers will earn places at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

A group that involves four of Asia's biggest sides in Qatar, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Syria is set up to be one of the most intriguing, with some of the Continent's best next generation on display.

We have selected a player from each side who could be the stand-out.

Ali was not part of the Saudi Arabia squad for the Qualifiers last March, with the West Asian side sealing a spot in the Finals as one of the best four second-placed teams. 

Saudi Arabia are, however, mainstays in the AFC U23 Championship - having featured in all three previous editions - and Chelsea youth academy graduate Ali is excited to be part of their Thailand 2020 campaign.

Shahad was at the helm as the Iraqis booked their place in Rio de Janeiro with a third place finish in the 2016 edition of the competition and he is setting his sights on a similar outcome ahead of his team’s Group A opener against Australia.

With matches against Australia and competition heavyweights Iraq also looming large, the Japanese tactician is therefore adamant that his charges must concentrate on doing what they do best if they are to stand any chance of advancing.