QF Preview: Uzbekistan primed for France showdown

Having sent England packing in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, Jamoliddin Rakhmatullaev’s side will be brimming with confidence as they seek a place in the last four for the first time.

While it is still early days, Matchday Two provided a glimpse of how the second round could eventually finish so join the-AFC.com as we take a look at the facts and figures from an eventful round of action.

Set to make only their third appearance in the Finals, Palestine will face three-time champions Islamic Republic of Iran, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, China in their bid to make the knockout stage for the first time.

Defending champions Saudi Arabia lead the cast, with former winners Korea Republic (2020), Uzbekistan (2018), Japan (2016) and Iraq (2013) also looking to become the first team to lift the coveted trophy for a second time.

With the qualifying action to resume in March, attention now turns to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ with 24 of the 36 teams competing in Round 2 of the qualifiers to contest for the coveted trophy.

Join the-AFC.com as we take a look at five things we learned from Matchday Two.

Branko Ivankovic's side have continued from where they left off in a stirring FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign and look well equipped to launch a challenge for the AFC Asian Cup title.

Team manager Nualphan Lamsam said Polking would be replaced by Masatada Ishii, the 56-year-old Japanese coach who led Buriram United to Thai Premier League titles in 2022 and 2023.