SOUTH KOREA
Nickname: Taegeuk Warriors
World ranking: 23
Previous appearances: 14
Best finish: Champions — 1956, 1960
Fun fact: South Korea's quarter-final exit in 2019 was their earliest exit in four editions, having emerged runners-up in 2015 and third in 2007 and 2011.
Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
The German is the most decorated coach in Group E, boasting an impressive resume with stints with the German and United States national teams.
Klinsmann is determined to lead Korea to their first Asian Cup victory since 1960.
"Win it and not say 'maybe the final four' or 'maybe, maybe, maybe.' Not maybe — we go there to win it," he said.
Player to watch: Son Heung Min
A genuine contender for Asia's greatest-ever player, let alone one of this tournament's best, Heung Min has returned to form under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and is capable of driving Korea to glory for the first time in 64 years.
Expectations — Despite their reputation as one of Asia's best, Korea have only won the title twice. But with Heung Min, Bayern Munich defender Kim Min Jae, rising Premier League star Hwang Hee Chan and PSG's Lee Kang In present, staging a push to end their drought will be the target.
Squad — Goalkeepers: Kim Seung Gyu, Jo Hyeon Woo, Song Bum Keun;
Defenders: Kim Young Gwon, Kim Min Jae, Jung Seung Hyun, Kim Ju Sung, Kim Ji Soo, Seol Young Woo, Kim Tae Hwan, Lee Ki Je, Kim Jin Su;
Midfielders: Park Yong Woo, Hwang In Beom, Hong Hyun Seok, Lee Soon Min, Lee Jae Sung, Lee Kang In, Son Heung Min, Jeong Woo Yeong, Hwang Hee Chan, Moon Seon Min, Park Jin Seob, Yang Hyun Jun;
Forwards: Cho Gue Sung, Oh Hyeon Gyu.
BAHRAIN
Nickname: Muharabi Dilmun
World ranking: 86
Previous appearances: 6
Best finish: Fourth — 2004
Fun fact: At 39 years old, goalkeeper Sayed Jaafar is the third oldest player in the competition after Thailand's Siwarak Tedsungnoen and India's Sunil Chhetri who are both 40.
Coach: Juan Antonio Pizzi
A one-time La Liga and two-time Copa del Rey winner with Barcelona, as well as a 22-time Spain representative, Pizzi has significant experience at club and international level in Asia (leading Saudi Arabia into the last 16 at the 2019 Asian Cup).
He was also the Saudi Arabia coach for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Player to watch: Komail Al-Aswad
Growing up as a gymnast, Al-Aswad made a timely switch to football before earning his first cap at the 2015 edition. He has since earned 97 caps and 13 goals.
The midfielder has set his sights on helping his national team record a new high after their semi-final appearance in the 2004 edition.
Expectations — Bahrain should fancy their chances of getting past Malaysia and Jordan to ensure progression alongside South Korea from the group.
Squad — Goalkeepers: Sayed Jaafar, Abdulkarim Fardan, Ebrahim Lutfalla;
Defenders: Amine Benaddi, Waleed Al-Hayam, Sayed Mahdy Baqer, Mohammed Abdul Qayoom, Ahmed Bughammar, Mohammed Adel, Abdulla Al-Khalasi, Husain Al-Eker;
Midfielders: Mohamed Abdulwahab, Mohamed Hardan, Mohamed Marhoon, Kamil Al-Aswad, Ibrahim Al Khatal, Moses Jona, Jassim Al-Shaikh, Jasim Al-Salama, Ibrahim Al-Wali;
Forwards: Ali Jaafar Madan, Abdullah Yusuf Hilal, Ali Hasan Saeed Isa, Abdullah Duaij, Hazaa Ali, Mahdi Al-Humaidan.
JORDAN
Nickname: The Chivalrous Ones
World ranking: 87
Previous appearances: 4
Best finish: Quarter-finals — 2004, 2011
Fun fact: Jordan will feature in the tournament for the fourth consecutive time.
Coach: Hussein Ammouta
A former Morocco international who had several stops with Middle Eastern clubs during his playing days, the Asian Cup will be Ammouta's first major international tournament in Asia as a coach.
Four years ago, he guided Morocco to the African Nations Championship crown.
Player to watch: Musa Al-Taamari
Known as the Jordanian Messi, Al-Taamari is the first ever from his country to play in Ligue 1 for Montpellier. The winger is a good dribbler and has scored 13 goals in 65 appearances for Jordan.
Expectations — Jordan and Bahrain will most likely fight it out to see who can finish in the top two in the group, with both targeting Malaysia as an opponent to bolster their hopes of progression.
Squad — Goalkeepers: Yazeed Abu Laila, Abdallah Al-Fakhouri, Ahmad Al Juaidi;
Defenders: Mohammad Abuhasheesh, Abdallah Nasib, Bara'a Marei, Yazan Al-Arab, Abu Taha, Feras Shelbaieh, Salem Al-Ajalin, Anas Bani Yaseen, Ehsan Haddad;
Midfielders: Mohammed Abu Zraiq, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Mahmoud Al Mardi, Rajaei Ayed, Ibrahim Sadeh, Saleh Ratib, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Yousef Abu Jalboush, Fadi Awad;
Forwards: Ali Olwan, Mousa Al-Taamari, Yazan Al Naimat, Hamza Al-Daradreh, Anas Hammad.
MALAYSIA
Nickname: Harimau Malaya
World ranking: 130
Previous appearances: 3
Best finish: Group stage — 1976, 1980, 2007
Fun fact: Malaysia are making their first appearance on merit since the 1980 edition.
Coach: Kim Pan Gon
Pan Gon, who boasts an impressive winning rate of 72.72 per cent since his appointment as coach in 2002, helped Harimau Malaya qualify for the Asian Cup on merit after 43 years. He believes Malaysia can reach the last 16 for the first time in Doha.
Player to watch: Arif Aiman Hanapi
Regarded as the brightest talent Malaysian football has produced in recent years, Arif, who turns 22 in May, has earned 22 caps and seven goals. Arif will definitely grab attention in Doha and could attract scouts from European clubs.
Expectations — Returning to the Asian Cup for the first time since they co-hosted the tournament in 2007, Malaysia, led by 14 naturalised players, will be looking to give a good account of themselves. Given their recent form, a few upsets are on the cards, which could be enough to see them sneak out of the group stage.
Squad — Goalkeepers: Azri Ghani, Syihan Hazmi, Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman;
Defenders: Matthew Davies, Shahrul Saad, Daniel Ting, Syahmi Safari, Dominic Tan, Junior Eldstal, Dion Cools, La'vere Lawrence Corbin-Ong, Khuzaimi Piee;
Midfielders: Stuart Wilkin, Endrick dos Santos, Syamer Kutty Abba, Brendan Gan, Afiq Fazail, Natxo Insa;
Forwards: Faisal Halim, Darren Lok, Safawi Rasid, Arif Aiman Hanapi, Mohamadou Sumareh, Paulo Josue, Akhyar Rashid, Romel Morales.