Bahrain to face UAE, India, Thailand at Asian Cup 2019

Dubai, May 5 (BNA): Bahrain were drawn to take on hosts UAE, Thailand and India in Group A at the Asian Cup finals to be held next year. Defending champions Australia will renew their rivalry with Syria after being drawn alongside the Middle Eastern nation in Group B. The group also includes Palestine and Jordan. Four-time champions Japan play Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan in Group F. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have been drawn in Group E with Lebanon and North Korea. Group D features Iran, Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen while South Korea take on China, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines in Group C. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President, Shaikh Salman bin Ibrahim AL Khalifa, announced introduced a prize fund of $15 million for the tournament, with the champions picking up $5 million and the runners-up earning $3 million. The finals will kick off on January 5 with the final to be played in Abu Dhabi on February 1.