From its humble beginnings in 1956, the AFC Asian Cup has developed into the continent’s premier football tournament, bringing together the top national teams from the length and breadth of Asia to compete for one of international football’s most sought-after prizes every four years.

The tournament had it roots in the formation of the Asian Football Confederation in Manila in 1954. The 12 founder members of the AFC sought to shape the development of the game in Asia and one of the keys to achieving that aim was the organisation of a regional competition for the continent's international teams.

Just two years later, the first ever AFC Asian Cup was staged in Hong Kong with seven of the 12 affiliated national associations vying for the title of Asia's best football team.

Over half a century later, the AFC Asian Cup has grown to encompass teams from throughout the continent and has become the barometer by which the continually changing balance of power in Asian football is measured.

From the dominance of Korea Republic in the early years of the competition, the AFC Asian Cup became the preserve of the mighty Iranians who won three consecutive tournaments from 1968 to 1976.

During the 1980s, the Gulf states asserted themselves with Kuwait becoming the first Arab side to win the competition in 1980 before Saudi Arabia claimed three of the next four championships, reaching the final five times in a row.

Japan's AFC Asian Cup victories in 1992, 2000 and 2004 signaled a shift in power back to East Asia at the turn of the Millennium.

2007 saw the competition being co-hosted for the first time ever by four South-East Asian countries - Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. Iraq defeated Saudi Arabia to clinch the title and the fairytale and popular win left the war-torn nation elated in a clear sign of football’s immense power to bring people together.