After what some would call a dull opening to the 2019 Asian Cup, Matchday 2 and 3 could not have been more polar opposite. Matchday 2 provided fans a brilliant display of football with all of the drama one could hope for. The underdogs showed up much like the NFL’s wild card weekend! Matchday 3 was a return to normal with some world class showings for a few nations that are looking to make some noise over the next month.
The 2019 Asian Cup tournament kicked off in the late morning hours here on the east coast of the United States. The 17th edition of the tournament is being played in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi took center stage for the opening fixture complete with a larger than life trophy in the middle of the pitch during the opening ceremony. The giant inflatable replica is a fitting symbol, given that the field is larger than ever before. As typical for most continental tournaments, the hosts got to open the proceedings against regional rival Bahrain.
So normally we try to keep our content as close to the Magic City as possible. Yet, there are times where really interesting stories resonate with us, and we think they will interest you. In CONCACAF, we are spoiled to have a domestic tournament take place within the region every two years. Europe and South America host their contests every four years. Perhaps the regional crown is less watered down when it’s hosted every four years but that’s neither here nor there.