select - Asian Cup Countries (Part 3)
Written by Brian Johnston
This January in Qatar, 16 of the best Asian soccer teams go head-to-head in the Asian Football Confederation’s Asian Cup. Oryx takes a look at the 13 participating nations on Qatar Airways routes, and profiles some of the players to watch.
Iran
Iran combines one of the world’s great ancient civilisations with modern oil-fuelled growth in urban centres such as Tehran. The latter not only boasts the country’s best shopping and dining but also some outstanding palaces and museums. For most visitors, however, Iran’s highlights are the desert mud-brick city of Yazd, the beautiful gardens and balmy climate of Shiraz, and the haunting ruins of ancient Persepolis from the glory years of the Persian Empire. The magnificent Islamic architecture, medieval bridges, and vast bazaars of Isfahan make it the country’s most beautiful city. But Iran’s most visited site is actually holy Mashad in the northeast, destination for some 20 million Shi’ite Muslim pilgrims annually.
HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways flies from Doha to Tehran daily, and to Mashad five times a week.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Iran has excellent credentials in the AFC Asian Cup, and energetic midfielder Javad Nekounam, who currently plays for Spanish team CA Osasuna and has over 100 international caps, will be looking to consolidate his record as a player to score goals at crucial moments.
Saudi Arabia
The sacred journey to Mecca, for Muslims, is the country's most revered experience. More recently, however, secular tourists have been discovering the slowly opening attractions of the kingdom. The laidback coastal city of Jeddah is an elegant and multicultural trading port, reflected in its fine restaurants and shops, and with some of the Red Sea’s best reefs lying just offshore. Meanwhile, Riyadh features phenomenal growth and glittering new skyscrapers, with some superb cultural attractions and museums. But Saudi Arabia’s natural assets shouldn’t be overlooked. The vast Empty Quarter hides mud-brick forts, beautiful oryx, and staggering sand dunes, while Asir National Park has marvellous mountain and coastal scenery along the Red Sea.
HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways has daily flights from Doha to Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Three-times champion in the last seven Asian Cups, Saudi Arabia has impeccable credentials. With retirement looming, defender Hussein Abdulghani Sulaimani – who plays for Swiss team Neuchâtel Xamax – will be looking to add to his 108 international caps.
Syria
Settled 5,000 years ago, the Syrian capital of Damascus is probably the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with old streets full of Greek churches and Ottoman palaces. In the eastern desert lie the magnificent remains of Palmyra; in the west, Krak des Chevaliers, a splendid medieval castle. Aleppo is renowned for its ancient souk and lively evening dining scene.
HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways has twice daily flights to Damascus, plus four weekly flights to Aleppo from April 6.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Syria has been part of the AFC Asian Cup tournament since 1996 and this time qualified undefeated, giving plenty of kudos to team captain Firas Al Khatib, who otherwise plays in Kuwait.
South Korea
South Korea packs in plenty of history coupled with a technologically advanced, modern vibe, and nowhere more so than in Seoul, where ancient palaces vie for attention with shopping malls, amusement parks, and pulsating nightlife in Gangnam district. Beyond the mega-city, the ancient capital of Gyeongju offers archaeological wonders and old Buddhist temples, including spectacular World Heritage Bulguksa Temple. But the wonders of nature are also on display in Korea, with the likes of Seoraksan National Park offering hiking in the mountains one day, and beach life the next. The honeymoon and holiday island of Jeju has spectacular sea cliffs and waterfalls, and Korea’s highest mountain, the volcanic Mt. Hallasan.
HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways has daily flights from Doha to Seoul.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Korea’s captain Park Ji-Sung is a superstar of Asian sport who played for Korean, Japanese, and Dutch teams before being signed by Manchester United in 2005. The midfielder scored goals in the last three FIFA World Cups and will surely do so again this January.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates is a contemporary success story that frequently garners world headlines for its fabulous real estate developments, outsize malls, skyscrapers (Burj Khalifa is now the world’s tallest), major museum developments, and superlative duty-free shopping, especially in its largest cities, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Other emirates include Sharjah, rich in traditional architecture and excellent shopping, and Fujairah, which has marvellous desert and mountain scenery. The northernmost emirate, green and fertile Ras Al Khaimah, is arguably the most beautiful, and is also well known for water sports and camel racing. One of the UAE’s more unusual sports is falconry, with falconry parties the highlight of the winter hunting season.
HOW TO GET THERE
Qatar Airways has daily flights from Doha to both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Al Wasl striker Saeed Al Kas scored goals against Qatar and Japan in the last AFC Asian Cup and was instrumental in Al Wasl winning the Gulf Club Champions Cup in 2010, his six goals making him top scorer in the tournament.
