Runners-up in 2019, Japan are the most successful team in the AFC Asian Cup, having won the competition four times – in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011.

 

The Samurai Blue have appeared in five of the past eight finals, with their loss to Qatar in the United Arab Emirates five years ago the only time they have suffered defeat. 

While Japan boast the most titles, no side can match the Islamic Republic of Iran’s three in a row after Team Melli were crowned champions in 1968 and then successfully defended their title at the 1972 and 1976 editions.

 

Korea Republic won the inaugural edition in 1956 and held onto the trophy four years later, while Saudi Arabia also went back-to-back by lifting the title in 1984 and 1988.

While five of the first seven editions of the AFC Asian Cup were won by the host, only two nations have been crowned champions in their homeland in the 10 ensuing editions. 

 

Japan won their first title by beating Saudi Arabia in Hiroshima in 1992 and, 23 years later, Australia overcame Korea Republic after extra-time in Sydney. 

Iranian legend Ali Daei is out in front when it comes to number of goals scored at the AFC Asian Cup, with the striker registering 14 times across three competitions between 1996 and 2004. His four-goal second-half haul against Korea Republic in 1996 remains one of the tournament’s greatest feats.

 

Daei sits some way in front of second-placed Lee Dong-gook of Korea Republic on 10 goals, while Japan’s Naohiro Takahara, the United Arab Emirates’ Ali Mabkhout and Qatar’s Almoez Ali all have nine. 

Daei may have competition for his number one spot should Almoez Ali have a campaign like he did in 2019, when the Qatari striker bagged nine goals in seven games to fire his country to their maiden title. 

 

Like Daei, Almoez also scored four goals in a game – against DPR Korea in the group stage – but it’s his acrobatic overhead kick to open the scoring against Japan in the final that will live long in the memory.

Another player on nine goals, Ali Mabkhout, holds the record for the fastest goal at the AFC Asian Cup when he opened the scoring against Bahrain after just 14 seconds in the 2015 group stage. The Emiratis went on to finish third while the striker bagged the top scorer award.

 

Still his country’s first-choice up front, Mabkhout will join Almoez in looking to close in on Daei’s record when the competition gets underway in just a few days' time. 

A number of players have appeared at four AFC Asian Cups over the years, among them legends including Yasuhito Endo, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Younis Mahmoud and Zheng Zhi, but no one can match Ignatiy Nesterov. 

 

The Uzbekistan goalkeeper played in all five AFC Asian Cups between 2004 and 2019, reaching the knockout rounds on each occasion and achieving a best-ever semi-final showing in 2011. 

Only two AFC Asian Cup finals have been decided by penalties and both times Saudi Arabia have been the victor as they held their nerve to overcome Korea Republic in 1988 and then the UAE in 1996 – both times after 0-0 draws. 

 

The Green Falcons, along with Iran, are one of only two nations to lift the AFC Asian Cup three times. However, the 1996 success remains their last as they look to end a 27-year wait under new head coach Roberto Mancini. 

Iran have won more games than any other side in AFC Asian Cup history, winning 41 of their 68 matches since debuting as hosts in the fourth edition in 1968. 

 

Since winning their third title in 1976, however, Team Melli have not returned to the final, falling at the semi-final stage on six occasions, most recently when they lost to Japan in 2019. 

And finally, 36 countries from across Asia have appeared at the AFC Asian Cup over the years in a tournament that began in 1956 and is the second oldest continental competition behind South America’s Copa America. 

 

That number will become 37 this time round when Tajikistan – the only debutant in Qatar – take to the pitch at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha to face China PR on January 13.