Saudi Arabia vs Kuwait

The hosts leave Riyadh

Saudi Arabia play their only group match outside the capital at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast and the second-largest venue of the tournament. It is the final round of Group A fixtures, played simultaneously with Oman against Palestine.

What is at stake depends on the first two matchdays. A host nation that has taken six points arrives in Jeddah with the group won and the chance to rest players before the round of 16; one that has taken three arrives needing a result in front of a crowd that has spent a fortnight expecting better.

Kuwait have the older claim on this tournament: runners-up in 1976, champions in 1980. Both came inside the first decade of their Asian Cup history, which began in 1972, and nothing in the four decades since has matched either. An eleventh appearance that ends in Jeddah with nothing would fit that pattern rather than break it.

The two records

This is a twelfth Asian Cup for Saudi Arabia, whose best finish is winners (1984, 1988, 1996), against a eleventh for Kuwait, best winners (1980).