Just over a year on from hosting the World Cup for the first time, Qatar will be the scene of an intriguing, rescheduled Asian Cup.
Qatar head into the 24-team tournament as defending champions, after stunning four-time winners Japan in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
But they will also do so as hosts, after China gave up hosting rights amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022.
Qatar take on Lebanon at 3am Saturday AEDT in the opening game of the tournament at the Lusail Stadium.
They will be favourites for that game but how their title defence will otherwise fare, after a disastrous home World Cup and the departure of former coach Carlos Queiroz, is unclear.
Instead, tournament favouritism will lie with Japan, with Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Korea also backing their title credentials.
Former Italy coach Roberto Mancini is attempting to lead the Saudis to their first title since 1996.
Japan mentor Hajime Moriyasu is attempting to become the first man to win the Asian Cup both as a player and a coach, after playing in the Samurai Blue's 1992 triumph.
After impressive World Cup wins over Spain and Germany at the World Cup, then a 4-1 thrashing of the Germans in a September friendly match, there is plenty of optimism regarding Japan's tilt.
Former Germany World Cup winner Jurgen Klinsmann is attempting to end South Korea's 64-year Asian Cup title drought, with captain and Tottenham superstar Son Heung-min to lead the charge.
The Socceroos will enter the tournament high on confidence after reaching the round of 16 in Qatar, which has proved a home away from home throughout COVID-19.
Coach Graham Arnold, in his third Asian Cup at the helm, relished the familiar surrounds.
"It's a fantastic place, Qatar, to have these type of tournaments and the boys and staff have settled in really well," Arnold said.
"If you look at my stats, I've had 46 games (in charge) and I've played 11 in Australia.
"So I'm very, very familiar now with Asia and playing overseas, and being out of Australia.
"It's beautiful here. The pitches, the training fields are fantastic, the stadiums are incredible. So we've got everything luxury at the moment here with that side of things."
Iran, perennial a Asian power and 2019 semi-finalists, will attempt to go two steps further.
There is also bound to be plenty of focus on and support for Palestine's journey at a tournament held amid Israel's military action in Gaza.
ASIAN CUP GROUPS
* Group A: Qatar, China, Tajikistan, Lebanon
* Group B: Australia, Uzbekistan, Syria, India
* Group C: Iran, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Palestine
* Group D: Japan, Indonesia, Iraq, Vietnam
* Group E: South Korea, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain
* Group F: Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Oman.
