Pot 1
Saudi Arabia
FIFA Ranking: 61
Previous appearances: 11
Best finish: Champions (1984, 1988, 1996)
2023 record: R16
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: The closest Saudi Arabia have come to adding to their three titles was in the 2000 and 2007 editions when they finished runners-up.

Japan
FIFA Ranking: 18
Previous appearances: 10
Best finish: Champions (1992, 2000, 2004, 2011)
2023 record: Q-finals
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Besides lifting the trophy four times, Japan were runners-up in 2019.

Islamic Republic of Iran
FIFA Ranking: 21
Previous appearances: 15
Best finish: Champions (1968, 1972, 1976)
2023 record: Semi-finals
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Iran have not advanced to the final since lifting the third of their titles in 1976.

Korea Republic
FIFA Ranking: 25
Previous appearances: 15
Best finish: Champions (1956, 1960)
2023 record: Semi-finals
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Korea Republic have finished runners-up four times since winning the first two editions of the continental showpiece.

Australia
FIFA Ranking: 27
Previous appearances: 5
Best finish: Champions (2015)
2023 record: Q-finals
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Three of Australia's five campaigns since making their AFC Asian Cup debut in 2007 have ended in the quarter-finals.

Uzbekistan
FIFA Ranking: 50
Previous appearances: 8
Best finish: Semi-finals (2011)
2023 record: Q-finals
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Uzbekistan have progressed to the knockout stage for six consecutive tournaments.

Pot 2
Qatar
FIFA Ranking: 55
Previous appearances: 11
Best finish: Champions (2019, 2023)
2023 record: Champions
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Prior to winning back-to-back titles, Qatar's best record was quarter-final appearances in the 2000 and 2011 editions.

Iraq
FIFA Ranking: 57
Previous appearances: 10
Best finish: Champions (2007)
2023 record: R16
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Iraq have advanced to the knockout stage in nine of their previous 10 appearances.

Jordan
FIFA Ranking: 63
Previous appearances: 5
Best finish: Runners-up (2023)
2023 record: Runners-up
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Prior to their remarkable run to the 2023 final, Jordan's previous best was the quarter-final stage in 2004 and 2011.

United Arab Emirates
FIFA Ranking: 68
Previous appearances: 11
Best finish: Runners-up (1996)
2023 record: R16
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: UAE's best results in the tournament have been achieved as hosts, finishing runners-up in 1996 and semi-finalists in 2019.

Oman
FIFA Ranking: 79
Previous appearances: 5
Best finish: R16 (2019)
2023 record: Group Stage
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Oman will be making a fourth consecutive appearance in the Finals.

Syria
FIFA Ranking: 84
Previous appearances: 7
Best finish: R16 (2023)
2023 record: R16
How they qualified: Group E winners - Qualifiers Round 3
Fun fact: Syria qualified for the Finals with a perfect record on six wins in Round 3.

Pot 3
Bahrain
FIFA Ranking: 91
Previous appearances: 7
Best finish: S-finals (2004)
2023 record: R16
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Bahrain's last two campaigns have ended in the Round of 16.

Thailand
FIFA Ranking: 93
Previous appearances: 8
Best finish: Semi-finals (1972)in
2023 record: R16
How they qualified: Group D winners - Qualifiers Round 3
Fun fact: Thailand will be making a third consecutive appearance at the Finals after having missed the 2011 and 2015 editions.

China PR
FIFA Ranking: 94
Previous appearances: 13
Best finish: Runners-up (1984, 2004)
2023 record: Group stage
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: China PR's best result since finishing runners-up in 2004 was quarter-final appearances in 2015 and 2019.

Palestine
FIFA Ranking: 95
Previous appearances: 2
Best finish: R16 (2023)
2023 record: R16
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Palestine will be making a third consecutive appearance at the Finals.

Vietnam
FIFA Ranking: 99
Previous appearances: 5
Best finish: Fourth (1956, 1960)
2023 record: Group Stage
How they qualified: Group F winners - Qualifiers Round 3
Fun fact: Vietnam have advanced to the quarter-finals in two of their last three appearances.

Tajikistan
FIFA Ranking: 103
Previous appearances: 1
Best finish: Q-finals (2023)
2023 record: Q-finals
How they qualified: Group A winners - Qualifiers Round 3
Fun fact: Tajikistan sealed qualification to a second successive Finals by the slimmest of margins - finishing ahead of the Philippines on goal difference.

Pot 4
Kyrgyz Republic
FIFA Ranking: 107
Previous appearances: 2
Best finish: R16 (2019)
2023 record: Group stage
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Having created history by advancing to the AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26, Kyrgyz Republic will be seeking to better their previous AFC Asian Cup best at Saudi Arabia 2027.

DPR Korea
FIFA Ranking: 118
Previous appearances: 5
Best finish: Semi-finals (1980)
2023 record: Withdrew from Qualifiers
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Since making the semi-finals in their tournament debut in 1980, DPR Korea's subsequent campaigns have ended in the group stage.

Indonesia
FIFA Ranking: 122
Previous appearances: 5
Best finish: R16 (2023)
2023 record: R16
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Indonesia made a return to the Finals in 2023 after having missed the previous three editions.

Kuwait
FIFA Ranking: 134
Previous appearances: 10
Best finish: Champions (1980)
2023 record: Did not qualify
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26
Fun fact: Kuwait will be featuring in the Finals after missing out in 2019 and 2023.

Singapore
FIFA Ranking: 147
Previous appearances: 1
Best finish: Group Stage (1984)
2023 record: Did not qualify
How they qualified: Group C winners - Qualifiers Round 3
Fun fact: Singapore's only previous appearance was when they hosted the 1984 edition.

Lebanon
FIFA Ranking: 108
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: Group Stage
2023 record: Group Stage
Fun fact: Lebanon are seeking a third consecutive appearance at the Finals.

Yemen
FIFA Ranking: 149
Previous appearances: 2 (South Yemen in 1976)
Best finish: Group Stage
2023 record: Did not qualify
Fun fact: Yemen's last appearance in the Finals was in the 2019 edition.

Note: Lebanon and Yemen will meet on June 4 to decide the Qualifiers Final Round Group B winners.