The 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification involved 33 participating teams. The United Arab Emirates (hosts) and Japan (holders) qualified automatically for the 1996 AFC Asian Cup.
1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification Dates 24 January 1996 – 11 August 1996 Teams 33 (from 1 confederation) Top scorer(s) Ali Daei (12 goals)
International football competition
Qualification
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Iran
6
6
0
0
27
1
+26
18
Oman
6
4
0
2
23
5
+18
12
Sri Lanka
6
2
0
4
5
25
−20
6
Nepal
6
0
0
6
2
26
−24
0
Group 6
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Iraq
2
2
0
0
4
0
+4
6
Jordan
2
1
0
1
4
1
+3
3
Pakistan
2
0
0
2
0
7
−7
0
Group 7
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Syria
4
3
0
1
6
2
+4
9
Qatar
4
2
0
2
5
4
+1
6
Kazakhstan
4
1
0
3
1
6
−5
3
Group 8
Uzbekistan won 5–4 on aggregate.
Group 9
Group 10
Qualified teams
Team
Qualified as
Qualified on
Previous appearance
United Arab Emirates
Hosts
29 April 1993
4 (1980 , 1984 , 1988 , 1992 )
Japan
1992 AFC Asian Cup champions
8 November 1992
2 (1988 , 1992 )
South Korea
Group 1 winners
11 August 1996
7 (1956 , 1960 , 1964 , 1972 , 1980 , 1984 , 1988 )
China
Group 2 winners
4 February 1996
5 (1976 , 1980 , 1984 , 1988 , 1992 )
Thailand
Group 3 winners
9 July 1996
2 (1972 , 1992 )
Indonesia
Group 4 winners
4 March 1996
0 (debut)
Iran
Group 5 winners
21 June 1996
7 (1968 , 1972 , 1976 , 1980 , 1984 , 1988 , 1992 )
Iraq
Group 6 winners
13 August 1996
2 (1972 , 1976 )
Syria
Group 7 winners
19 July 1996
3 (1980 , 1984 , 1988 )
Uzbekistan
Group 8 winners
19 June 1996
0 (debut)
Saudi Arabia
Group 9 winners
2 February 1996
3 (1984 , 1988 , 1992 )
Kuwait
Group 10 winners
20 June 1996
5 (1972 , 1976 , 1980 , 1984 , 1988 )
References
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage