China placed in Group C at 2019 AFC Asian Cup Finals

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The 2019 AFC Asian Cup Finals draw was held in Dubai on Friday. This is the first time the tournament has featured 24 teams, up from 16.

China, which will be missing out at the World Cup in Russia, is still searching for its first continental title and was placed in group C with S. Korea, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines.

AFC general secretary Dato Windsor John displays the slip of the People's Republic of China during the final draw for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup championship. /VCG Photo

Former Manchester City and Beijing Renhe defender Sun Jihai picked China's name out of the bowl.

The 40-year-old was a member of the China squad that reached the final of this event on home soil in 2004 before losing 3-1 to Japan.

Three years ago in Australia, the Chinese side was eliminated by the host nation in the last eight, with many of the team from that tournament still in the picture under manager Marcello Lippi.

The Italian watched his team lose 6-nil to Wales in the China Cup last month and has said plenty of work needs to be done in order for them to be able to compete at the highest levels.

The tournament kicks off on Jan. 5 2019 in Abu Dhabi with the UAE taking on Bahrain in the opening game.

Defending champions Australia will fancy their chances of getting out of group B, which features Palestine, Jordan and Syria, who gave them a scare in the World Cup playoffs.

The top two and four best third-placed teams will advance from each group.