UAE awarded hosting rights for 2019 Asian Cup

The UAE has won the right to host the 2019 Asian Cup, the continent’s premier football competition.

The decision was announced in Bahrain on Monday afternoon following a meeting of the Asian Football Confederation’s executive committee. Widely expected to be chosen to stage the event for the second time in its history, the UAE beat Iran to the vote.

The AFC tweeted the first official confirmation: “We are pleased to announce that the United Arab Emirates will host the AFC #AC2019”.

The tournament, which takes place in January of 2019, will be expanded from 16 teams to 24, making it the largest and most prestigious senior football competition to be held in the Emirates.

The qualification process, made up of Asia’s 46 national teams, will involve three rounds, with the first two doubling as qualification for the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

The UAE enter at the second round, which begins this June, although should they not advance to the third stage they will still take, as hosts, a berth at the 2019 Asian Cup.

The final round, beginning October 2016, concludes March 2018.

Six venues will be used for the 2019 event: Zayed Sports City and Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi; Hazza bin Zayed Stadium and Khalifa International Stadium in Al Ain; and Dubai’s stadium under construction in Dubai Sports City as well as the Dubai International Cricket Ground.

The UAE’s success in hosting previous high-profile football tournaments was believed to be key to their selection. The country staged the 2009 and 2010 Fifa Club World Cups, as well as the 2003 Fifa World Youth Championship and the 2013 Fifa Under 17 World Cup.

The Asian Cup was last held in the UAE in 1996, when Saudi Arabia defeated the hosts in the final, via a penalty shootout. Having finished third at the most recent Asian Cup, in January, Mahdi Ali’s side are currently ranked fifth on the continent, behind Iran, South Korea, Japan and Australia, the reigning champions… see more

source: thenational.ae

Tags: Asian Cup 2019, sports, UAE

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