Full of confidence and ambition, the Socceroos want to chase silverware in Doha, after winning their first Asian Cup on home soil in 2015. They will be among the favourites to win the competition even if the underdog role seems to suit the team better.

What to expect

Graham Arnold’s side lacks star power, but instilled with the work ethic and resilience of the famous ‘Aussie DNA’, they are learning how to get results.

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Bahrain’s Asian Cup highpoint was in 2004 in China when they reached the semi-finals.

What to expect

The country has participated at six Asian Cup finals but has only won five matches and drawn six out of the 23 total games played.

In 2019 in the UAE they reached the Round of 16 but bowed out after a hard-fought 120 minutes against Korea Republic, which they lost 2-1 after extra time.

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It is a very different Asian Cup for China than what their fans expected. This edition of the tournament was supposed to be held on Chinese soil last year but a resurgence of the COVID-19 virus in the country led to dropping out of hosting.

What to expect

Now China will head to Doha as unfancied tourists though will no doubt expect to do better their quarter-final appearance from the last edition.

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Returning to Asia’s premier continental tournament for the first time since 1968, Hong Kong qualified via the third qualification round after recovering from a shaky 4-0 loss versus India with back-to-back victories over Cambodia and Afghanistan.

What to expect

As a result of their qualifying triumph, the team have been placed in Group C alongside Iran, Palestine and the UAE.

Having not featured in the tournament in over 50 years,

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India return to the continent’s flagship tournament for the fifth time. They were runners-up behind hosts Israel in the 1964 Asian Cup, but in recent times they have never progressed from the group stages.

What to expect

It’s that old record that the Indians are seeking to banish in Qatar – on the back of a good qualifying campaign.

They topped Group D in unbeaten fashion in the third round ahead of Hong Kong,

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No country at the tournament has been through more internal turmoil than Indonesia who failed to qualify for the last Asian Cup and were banned by Fifa from the one before because of government interference.

What to Expect

Indonesia are making a long overdue return having not reached the finals since co-hosting in 2007. Indonesia are the second-lowest ranked of all the teams and there appears little chance they can get out of the group for the first time.

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Iran’s modern history at the Asian Cup is one of torment and agony because every four years the side and the nation are consumed by the same single question: can Team Melli for the first time since 1976 win the coveted prize to fulfil their potential and satisfy their demanding fanbase?

What to expect

Iran won the Asian Cup three times before the Islamic Revolution, but have never reached the final since.

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Iraq shocked the world in 2007 by winning the Asian Cup and ever since the Lions of Mesopotamia have reached the knockout stages of the tournament, including a run to the semi-finals.

What to expect

Playing possession-based football under Spanish coach Jesus Casas and with more than half of the squad based in Europe, the Iraqis could go far again and become the tournament’s dark horses.

In Group D,

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With their credentials, players and pedigree, Japan must be considered the sky-high favourites to win their fifth Asian Cup – and not just on account of their outstanding showing at the last World Cup, but because of their tournament record, quality across the squad, and a coach who oozes confidence.

What to expect

They qualified at a canter and repeated victory over Germany in 2023 in a friendly that prompted Hansi Flick’s departure.

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This is Jordan’s fifth appearance in the last six editions of the Asian Cup.

What to expect

Four years ago they got to the round of 16 and twice before that reached the quarter-finals. For years before the turn of the Millennium they consistently failed to qualify because of internal turmoil. But once they witnessed something of a renaissance, it was all systems go, 2007 being their only failure to reach the finals in the last 19 years.

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Kyrgyzstan Republic qualified for the Asian Cup in the third round of qualification, thanks to an unbeaten record in Group F achieved by securing back-to-back wins over Singapore and Myanmar before being held to a draw by group winners Tajikistan.

What to expect

Last time out in 2019, Kyrgyzstan Republic reached the round of 16 after a third-placed finish in Group C, ahead of being dumped out the competition by hosts UAE in a five-goal thriller that went the way of the eventual semi-finalists.

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Lebanon open the 2023 Asian Cup against hosts Qatar in the Lusail Stadium on January 12.

What to expect

The Lebanese are in a difficult but well matched group where they are pitted against the hosts as well as China PR and Tajikistan.

In 2019 the Lebanese were also drawn in the same group as eventual tournament winners Qatar. They managed just one win in the group against North Korea.

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Ranked 74th in the world this is the Omanis fifth appearance at the Asian Cup finals, with their best performance coing in 2019 when the reached the last 16 in 2019 as one of third best group nations. They were knocked by Iran, losing 2-0.

What to expect

The Omanis had a strong 2023, starting the year with a run to the finals of the Gulf Cup before losing to hosts Iraq in the final in extra time.

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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.

What to expect

The Tigers have never reached the knockout stage of the tournament and face a stern test in Group E, facing off against Bahrain, Jordan and tournament favourites South Korea,

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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.

What to expect

Palestine have not played a game at home since 2019. By the time of kickoff, Palestine’s preparation will have stretched over a month across two continents.

They will encounter a balanced group in Doha where they should be able to count on a ton of support.

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What to expect

The welcoming of the football fraternity back to Qatar sees the country stage the Asian Cup for the third time and for the first time since 2011 when Qatar reached the last eight.

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