Every group for the AFC Asian Cup 2019

The Caltex Socceroos have been tasked with escaping a tricky Group B as they defend their crown at the AFC Asian Cup 2019 in the United Arab Emirates.

Familiar foes Syria and Jordan along with the relatively unknown Palestine make up a tough first hurdle in the bid to go back-to-back.

READ: Caltex Socceroos learn AFC Asian Cup 2019 opponents

Like Australia, fellow heavyweights Japan and Korea Republic were both pitted into groups featuring two other nations inside FIFA's top 100, while IR Iran will be expected to progress from Group D.

The expanded tournament will feature 24 competing countries for the first time in its history.

Here's how all six groups shape up with every team's FIFA World Ranking listed in brackets.

GROUP A: UAE (81), Thailand (122), India (97), Bahrain (116)

GROUP B: Australia (40), Syria (76), Palestine (83), Jordan (117)

GROUP C: Korea Republic (61), China PR (73), Kyrgyz Repubic (75), Philippines (113)

GROUP D: IR Iran (36), Iraq (88), Vietnam (103), Yemen (125)

GROUP E: Saudi Arabia (70), Qatar (101), Lebanon (82), DPR Korea (112)

GROUP F: Japan (60), Uzbekistan (88), Oman (87), Turkmenistan (129)