United Arab Emirates vs Vietnam

A lost final against a complicated record

The United Arab Emirates came closest to this trophy in 1996, when they hosted the tournament and lost the final to Saudi Arabia on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes. The eleven appearances since have produced nothing better, and nothing that close.

Vietnam bring the most complicated record in the group. The fourth-place finishes listed against their name, in 1956 and 1960, were achieved by South Vietnam, a separate football association in a separate country. Vietnam as it now exists has never matched them, and the rest of its Asian Cup history is recent.

King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh holds 26 000. With South Korea the clear favourites in Group E, the second qualifying place is what most of the group is about, and this is the first direct meeting of the two sides most likely to contest it.

The two records

This is a twelfth Asian Cup for United Arab Emirates, whose best finish is runners-up (1996), against a sixth for Vietnam, best fourth place (1956, 1960). The Vietnam finish was both as South Vietnam.