The tournament was meant to be held from 8 to 17 December 2017 in Amman, Jordan,[2] but was postponed to a later date,[3] and subsequently moved to Iraq on 21 May 2018.

[5] All WAFF members, excluding title holders Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, participated in the competition.

[6][7] All WAFF members, other than Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, agreed to take part in the tournament.

While the draw was intended to be held between 18 and 20 July 2019,[11] some teams requested the organizing committee to play in Erbil, therefore placing them in Group B, with the rest of the teams being placed in Group A to play in Karbala.

[12] The draw for the group fixtures was held on 20 July 2019 at the Iraq Football Association headquarters in Baghdad.