2019 FIFA Club World Cup: Tournament News & Qualifiers [R]

I'm quite fond of the Dracula collar trophy and it's difficult finding a graphic with all continental cups.

While on the subject of CONCACAF, Sporting Kansas City really went the extra mile preparing for the Toluca away match:

The OFC group stage has concluded. The two kiwi clubs finished with goal differentials of +22 and +18.

 

I need to correct myself. Due to the need of neutral venues between Saudi and Irani clubs, Maktoum Stadium gets to host two group stage matches. Guess I will be there on April 22 for Al Ahli (KSA) - Persepolis.

PS: I attended Al Wasl (UAE) - Al Nassr (KSA) last night. Good start for the Dubai-based club.

 

Well done to Ajax. Real Madrid’s reign of terror is over!

 

CONCACAF Quarterfinals, First Leg:

CF Monterrey (Mexico) - Atlanta United (USA) 3:0
CA Independiente (Panama) - Sporting KC (USA) 2:1
Houston Dynamo (USA) - Tigres UANL (Mexico) 0:2
NY Red Bulls (USA) - Santos Laguna (Mexico) 0:2

Four matches for MLS teams equal four losses. Panama's CAI continues to impress in their maiden participation. Unlike Atlanta United who arrived in this competition with much hype after winning MLS Cup in their second season of existence and drawing an average attendance of 53,000.



Tigres, the other Monterrey team, also has one foot in the semis after winning their "home" match in Houston in convincing fashion (Tigres fans took over the stands).

 

I guess this thread is safe. From the upcoming FIFA Council agenda.

 

The final eight are set in UEFA:

Liverpool
Manchester United
Manchester City
Tottenham
Juventus
Ajax
Barcelona
Porto

The draw is tomorrow.

I have to admit I did not expect Liverpool and ManU to progress against Bayern and PSG respectively. And what a Ronaldo performance that pushed Juventus through against Atletico Madrid who would have loved to play the final at home. Seems to be a good year for England...

...and that automatically raises expectations in South America given the terrible English record in the CWC.

 

This week was historic for Iraqi club football. Al Zawraa hosted the UAE's Al Wasl in the first ever match on Iraqi soil in the AFC CL era. And what a night it was for the hosts at the Karbala Sport City Stadium:



Also, the CAF group stage concludes this weekend with several spots in the quarterfinals still up for grabs. Ismaily, after being let back into the competition, is still stuck on two points after five matches.

And of course the CONCACAF final four will be known after tonight.

 

And the CONCACAF semis are...

Tigres UANL (Mexico) - Santos Laguna (Mexico)
CF Monterrey (Mexico) - Sporting Kansas City (USA)

Only Monterrey have won the competition before.

Panama's Independiente held on until the 75th minute of the second leg but then succumbed to Kansas City's pressure. The final goal of Santos Laguna against the NY Red Bulls is an absolute must-watch:

 

What happened to the 2019 host decision?
https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who...-steps-for-upcoming-international-tournaments

 

UCL Draw:

Tottenham - Manchester City
Manchester United - Barcelona
Liverpool - Porto
Ajax - Juventus

Final Eight in CAF:

Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Mamelodi Sundowns (S. Africa)
CS Constantine (Algeria)
Horoya (Guinea)
Simba (Tanzania)

Draw is on March 20. Horoya and Simba booked their places in the quarterfinals by beating Orlando Pirates (S. Africa) and Vita Club (DR Congo) respectively on the last matchday.

The goal that put Simba through in the 90th minute:

 

Yes, I saw that. The constantly changing format in the OFC is a joke. I suppose a one leg quarterfinal can be tolerated if the group winners are rewarded, but semis and final?! Ridiculous. Might as well hold the final four at a neutral site if travel is such an issue.

CAF Quarterfinal Draw:

CS Constantine (Algeria) - Esperance (Tunisia)
Mamelodi Sundowns (S. Africa) - Al Ahly (Egypt)
Horoya (Guinea) - Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
Simba (Tanzania) - TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

 

Boy, it really would be nice to have some clarity on the 2019 edition. June is too late. That would be after the UEFA, CAF, C'CAF and OFC final.

At least announce if there is going to be a host bidding process. Or say if it's been scrapped. Although I personally hope the current format gets a swansong for those of us who did enjoy it. It would also be a nice gradual shift in frequency from annual, to two-year gap and ultimately quadrennial.

 

The CONCACAF final is all but set after the first legs:

Tigres UANL (Mexico) - Santos Laguna (Mexico) 3:0
CF Monterrey (Mexico) - Sporting Kansas City (USA) 5:0



So things are back to "normal" in C'CAF. An all-Mexican final. After a Buenos Aires derby last year and Madrid derbies in 2014 and 2016 we are now likely to get a Monterrey one in a continental final. Color me excited!

 

OFC Semis:
AS Magenta (New Caledonia) - Auckland City (NZL)
Hienghène Sport (New Caledonia) - Team Wellington (NZL)

C'mon New Caledonia, create some suspense in the OFC...

CAF Quarters, First Leg:
CS Constantine (Algeria) - Esperance (Tunisia) 2:3
Mamelodi Sundowns (S. Africa) - Al Ahly (Egypt) 5:0
Horoya (Guinea) - Wydad Casablanca (Morocco) 0:0
Simba (Tanzania) - TP Mazembe (DR Congo) 0:0