AFC: The United Arab Emirates will host the AFC Asian Cup in 2019, with 24 teams competing

The UAE was selected as the host of the AFC Asian Cup in 2019 at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) on 09/03/2015.

Two countries had submitted bids to host the competition: the UAE and Iran. "I firmly believe that the UAE Football Association will host a tournament that could match and potentially even surpass the stunning AFC Asian Cup 2015 in Australia that we have all just witnessed," said Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (Bahrain), the president of the AFC on 09/03/2015.

The 2015 Asian Cup was held in Australia from 09 to 31/01/2015. The competition was won by the Australian team, who beat South Korea in the final (2-1 a.e.t.).

The 2019 edition of the Asian Cup will be the first with 24 participants

• The number of national teams participating in the Asian Cup will increase from 16 to 24 for the 2019 edition of the competition, the Executive Committee of the AFC announced on 16/04/2014.
•  "We must market our product and generate income…