Currently there are no cash rewards although the AFC gave 40,000 dollars to each team this year to help with travel expenses with the competition co-hosted by four countries.

In addition it decided Sunday to hand war-torn Iraq another 50,000 dollars.

"We decided to provide each nation with 40,000 US dollars as travel expenses from their home to the venue but the Iraqis, of course, are not based in Iraq and they have to travel through so many airports," said AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam.

"They applied for an additional subsidy and we approved it and it will be paid directly to the national association to help with their travel expenses."

Bin Hammam suggested that at the next 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar prize money would be offered for the first time.

"We don't compensate our football federations for playing in the Asian Cup. There is no prize money for this competition," he said.

"But we believe that for 2011 something will be changed."