Team Melli, who recently beat Belarus 5-0 and 2-1 with Ahmad Esmaeilpour and Asghar Hasanzadeh scoring a goal apiece on both occasions, will play Azerbaijan on Tuesday and Wednesday..
Iran, who are preparing for their defence of the AFC Futsal Championship title – which will be held in Chinese Taipei on February 1-11 – are drawn in Group C alongside Iraq, China PR and Myanmar.
Sixteen teams are divided into four groups with the top two sides in each section advancing to the knockout phase.
Iran won their 11th AFC Futsal Championship title after beating Uzbekistan 2-1 in the final of the 2016 edition.
IRAN
Best finish: Champions – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016
How they qualified: Group B winners (South & Central Zones)
FIFA Ranking: 5
Defending champions Iran are the favourites to lift the title again in Chinese Taipei as Mohammad Nazemosharia’s side prepare to open their defence against Myanmar on Feb 2.
Team Melli, who won the Asian Indoors in Ashgabat last year, beating Uzbekistan 7-1 in the final, topped their group during qualification as they maintained a perfect record beating Afghanistan 8-2 and Tajikistan 12-2.
Ahead of the Finals, Iran beat Belarus 5-0 and 2-1 in Tehran. They also played to a 3-3 draw against Azerbaijan before beating them 4-1 in the return leg.
Two-time AFC Futsal Player of the Year Ali Asghar Hassanzadeh will lead a star-studded cast in Chinese Taipei which includes Mahdi Javid, Farhad Tavakoli, Ahmad Esmaeilpour, Moslem Oladghobad and Alireza Rafieepour.
IRAQ
Best finish: Quarter-finals – 2002, 2016
How they qualified: Group A runners-up (West Zone)
FIFA Ranking: 50
Iraq qualified for the Finals after finishing second in Group A during the West Zone qualifying behind group winners Bahrain.
The 2002 and 2016 quarter-finalists head to Chinese Taipei after completing a series of friendlies against Lebanon and Malaysia as part of their tune-up ahead of the Finals.
The Lions of Mesopotamia beat Malaysia 5-1 and lost to Lebanon (5-1) and (3-2) in Beirut.
CHINA PR
Best finish: Fourth place – 2008, 2010
How they qualified: Play-off winners (East Zone)
FIFA Ranking: 74
China PR’s best finish in the competition was finishing fourth in the 2008 and 2010 editions and Team Dragon will be looking to better their record in Chinese Taipei.
Li Jianjia, Zhuang Jianfa, Zeng Liang, Zhao Liang, Xu Yang and Li Zhiheng will lead China’s charge in Chinese Taipei.
MYANMAR
Tournament debut
How they qualified: Group A runners-up (ASEAN Zone)
FIFA Ranking: 71
Myanmar will be making their debut in the Finals following an impressive ASEAN Zone qualifying, scoring 41 goals in finishing runners-up in Group A behind group winners Vietnam.
The White Angels beat Brunei 13-0, Phillipines 25-0, Indonesia 3-2 but fell 3-0 to Vietnam as Pyae Phyo Maung emerged top scorer with 11 goals.
Khin Zaw Lin, Naing Ye Kyaw, Nyein Min Soe, Aung Aung and Hlaing Min Tun make up the rest of Htay Myint’s side in Chinese Taipei.
Group C Fixtures
Feb 2:
Iraq v China PR,
Iran v Myanmar
Feb 4:
Myanmar v Iraq,
China PR v Iran
Feb 6:
Iran v Iraq,
China PR v Myanmar