The only Group C match in Jeddah
Group C plays five of its six matches in Riyadh. This is the exception: Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, 26 000 seats, on the Red Sea coast and a day later than the other second-round fixture. Both teams travel for it, and both travel back.
China have the deeper history and the worse recent trend. A fourteenth appearance, two finals behind them, and nothing since 2004 that has come close to either of them. Syria have the shallower history and the better recent moment: their first knockout place in 2023, at a seventh attempt.
Neither is likely to finish above Iran. That makes this, in all probability, the match that decides second place in Group C, played before either side has faced the group favourites twice over.
Syria 
Kyrgyzstan
Iran 
China