Malaysia
Lacking in Asian Cup finals pedigree but eager to break out of the group stage for the first time in their history, Malaysia travel to Qatar with a squad filled with youthful inexperience and exciting talent in equal measure.
Palestine
On their third appearance in the finals, Palestine want to clinch a first-ever ticket to the knockout stages of the Asian Cup and under Tunisian coach Makram Daboub the team has been playing well, often under difficult circumstances.
Qatar
Qatar have endured a difficult 14 months, with their World Cup adventure on home soil turning into the worst performance by a host nation ever and their subsequent gamble on appointing the experienced Carlos Queiroz as coach not working out.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia last won the Asian Cup in 1996 on home soil and it will be something of a surprise if they repeat the feat in Doha, the venue for their historic 2-1 win against Argentina at the World Cup.
South Korea
It takes supporters of a distinguished age to recall when South Korea last won the continental title – John F Kennedy was still alive and The Beatles were a new band – but the Taegeuk Warriors want to claim a third title and banish the notion that they are perennial underachievers.
Syria
This will be the seventh time Syria have qualified for the Asian Cup. They have never made it out the group stages.
Thailand
Stumbling at the first hurdle, Thailand qualified for the 2023 Asian Cup by way of third round qualification. The Qatar finals mark the country’s eighth run in the competition, headlined by a third-placed finish in their nation’s Asian Cup debut in 1972.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates have reached the semi-finals of the Asian Cup on the last two occasions and yet despite those results the Whites have never truly been considered a part of Asia’s elite.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan have been ever present in the tournament over the past eight editions and are the most successful side from Central Asia having qualified for every Asian Cup since the fall of the Soviet Union. Their most notable achievement was in 2011 when they reached the semi-finals.
Vietnam
With their fifth appearance in the Asian Cup, Vietnam are steadily emerged as a formidable force in football in Southeast Asia and beyond.
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