The AFC Asian Cup takes place every four years, having had its first edition in 1956. Since then only seven teams have lifted the title, with a further four managing a runners-up place at best.
Sixteen teams will play at the AFC Asian Cup of 2011. Of these, four qualified automatically: Qatar as hosts, and Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea as respective first to third finishers in the 2007 edition of the competition.
