How in the world am I not subscribed to this thread? Can't wait for the tourney.... Would be ironic if Boca Juniors qualified as I believe they are still sponsored by Qatar Airways no? Those CL semis look pretty mouthwatering....
AFC Quarterfinals, First Leg: East: Shanghai SIPG (CHN) - Urawa Reds (JPN) 2:2 Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) - Kashima Antlers (JPN) 0:0 West: Al Nassr (KSA) - Al Sadd (QAT) 2:1 Al Ittihad (KSA) - Al Hilal (KSA) 0:0
The Libertadores semis are set: River Plate (ARG) - Boca Juniors (ARG) Gremio (BRA) - Flamengo (BRA) The semifinalists are identical to last year with the exception of Flamengo. It's going to get heated in Buenos Aires.
So the Qatar 2022 competition logo will be revealed before the Qatar 2019 logo. It's already September and the only thing confirmed are the competition dates (Dec 11 - 21) and date of the draw (Sep 16) . Forget the logo, what about venues and ticket information? I guess the UAE will soon get to pass on the negative attendance record for the CWC.
Here is an interesting interview with the president of Esperance regarding the (abandoned) second leg of the African final. I missed this during my vacation but interestingly CAF decided to follow CONMEBOL with a neutral, single leg final in 2020. Just like with the AFC I don't think it will last. Africa is vast and traveling by plane is expensive and it generally lacks the infrastructure. You could have some very poorly attended finals.
Tickets? That's the million dollar question here.... I get asked practically every day at work if I know anything.... I guess I'm the official ticket-guy at work
FIFA have finally refreshed their CWC page: https://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup Draw is in 5 days. Liverpool 'beatable' in Club World Cup - Gremio: https://www.espn.com/soccer/fifa-cl...2/liverpool-beatable-in-club-world-cup-gremio In case there was any doubt the South American clubs like their chances this year.
Seems like it. Time for CAF, I mean Fatma Samoura to make a call. Draw Procedures - It will be shown live on youtube.
Liverpool's schedule is now also clear: 14/12 - Watford (H) 18/12 - CWC (Qatar) 21/12 - CWC (Qatar) 26/12 - Leicester (A) 28/12 - Wolverhampton (H) 01/01 - Sheffield (H) 11/01 - Tottenham (A) They get a few days of rest after new year's day. But until then it's a fairly packed schedule, although not with the most intimidating of domestic opponents.
Not clear at all - in addition to the FA Cup noted by Blondo, the 1st leg of the Carabao Cup semi finals are the week beginning 6 January, J
If you want to be one of the best teams around then you'll have to be able to handle 60 games per season.
Fair points about the Cup competitions. However, I do believe the Premier League will have its first "winter break" this season. In February if memory serves right.
The never-ending final: CAF set to hear ‘walk-out’ Wydad’s Champions League appeal: http://www.insideworldfootball.com/...set-hear-walk-wydads-champions-league-appeal/ So the whole thing could return to CAS once again...
The draw has been made: M1: Host - Hienghene M2 Monterrey - Winner M1 M3: AFC - Esperance Liverpool will play the winner of M2. The Libertadores champions the winner of M3. Cue the CONCACAF complaints about being drawn on the UEFA side. In Africa, the CAF Appeal Board has ruled against Wydad's complaint. That means Esperance is one step close to Qatar 2019: Also uncertain is the host spot because Al Sadd reached the AFC semis tonight in a very entertaining match against Saudi's Al Nassr. @glennaldo_sf - were you at the stadium? Looked like a full house.
Only if Wydad have announced that they are not dragging the decision to the CAS. But I don't see any reports to that effect.
The AFC CL semis are set: Al Sadd (Qatar) - Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) Urawa Reds (Japan) - Guangzhou Evergrande (China) Defending champions Kashima went out to Evergrande but Urawa ensured Japanese participation by beating big-spending Shanghai SIPG (who was severely missing the suspended Hulk). In the meeting of Saudi giants between Hilal and Ittihad, the former prevailed. To the reading MLS fans, Giovinco scored the last goal for Al Hilal in the series.