WAFF: Iran Kick-off against Palestine

Tournament hosts Iran, who have won all but one edition of the WAFF Championship, will take on the Palestinians on August 7 before facing AFC Asian Cup 2011 hosts Qatar four days later.

Syria, runners-up to Iran in the inaugural WAFF Championship in 2000 before finishing second again to the same opposition in 2004, are in Group B along with Oman and Jordan, beaten finalists in 2002 when Iraq became the only other nation to win the competition.

Iraq, the reigning AFC Asian Cup holders, pulled out of the competition as did Bahrain and Lebanon, who have failed to make it past the group stage in all four of the previous WAFF Championships.

2008 WAFF Championship – Tehran, Iran

Aug 7 – Jordan v Syria; Iran v Palestine

Aug 9 – Palestine v Qatar; Syria v Oman

Aug 11 – Jordan v Oman; Qatar v Iran

Aug 13 – Semi-finals

Aug 15 – Final