By Samindra Kunti in Abu Dhabi
January 5 – United Arab Emirates coach Alberto Zaccheroni (pictured centre) thinks that history can still repeat itself for the host nation after his team stumbled to a disappointing 1-1 draw in the curtain raiser of the 2019 Asian Cup. The Italian won the Asian Cup in 2011 after Japan were held in their first game by Jordan.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 5 – He may be little known in his home country, yet he is the man largely credited with waking one of Asian football’s sleeping giants from its seemingly interminable slumber.
By Samindra Kunti in Abu Dhabi
January 5 – India and Thailand will focus on kicking off their Asian Cup campaign in winning style on Sunday at the Al Nahyan Stadium as the two nations have subdued tournament expectations after enduring a troublesome build-up to the finals.
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 5 – The 2019 Asian Cup opener today between the host nation UAE and Bahrain will be only the second encounter between the two national teams in this competition. The first was in the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia. UAE won 2-1.
By Paul Nicholson
January 4 – The opening match of the Asian Cup tomorrow at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi marks what is a significant change in the geographical focus of the international football world for the next four years. It also marks a big step forward for the Asian Football Confederation and its competitive framework.
By Paul Nicholson
January 4 – The Asian Cup teams are gathering in the UAE for the start of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals but the pathways into the country are proving far from smooth for some officials and media with yesterday the UAE refusing entry to Asian Football Confederation vice president Saoud al-Mohannadi from Qatar, chairman of the organising committee for the championship.
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 4 – Uzbekistan’s goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov is on the verge of making history at the AFC Asian Cup, posting a new playing record in the Asian football showpiece.
January 4 – Asia is striking a blow for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system by introducing it in the knockout stages of the Asian Cup that gets under way this weekend.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 3 – He’s arguably the main man behind Asia’s football development, a low-key understated but highly knowledgable figure respected throughout international football with a contacts book as long as your arm.
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 3 – With just two days to go to the kick-off of the 17th edition of AFC Asian Cup in the UAE, figures show that Qatar hosts the highest number from among the 552 players registered in the Asian Cup 2019.
January 3 – For the first time in history eight stadiums will welcome 24 teams from across the Continent for the upcoming Asian Cup, the world’s second oldest continental competition.
By Abdelaziz Abuhamar
January 2 – Out of the 552 players in the Asian Cup 2019, to be staged in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1, about 75% are taking part in the Asian football showpiece for the first time.
December 20 – India were the first team to arrive for the 24-nation Asian Cup when they landed today in Abu Dhabi and were greeted with a fervent reception from their supporters thanks to the staggering 3.3 million Indian community who live in the United Arab Emirates.
December 20 – After travelling nearly 25,000kms across Asia, the new Asian Cup trophy has finally landed in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, one of the four host cities of the region’s pinnacle tournament that starts early next month.
By Samindra Kunti
December 13 – Japan have dropped Borussia Dortmund star Shinji Kagawa from their Asian Cup squad with coach Hajime Moriyasu opting for youth.