Football
ESPN staff 9y

AFC President challenges UAE to match Aussies Asian Cup feat

Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa admits that United Arab Emirates have a huge task in front of them to match the success of January's AFC Asian Cup when they host the 2019 edition. 

The UAE was awarded the hosting rights to the 17th edition of the continental championship on Monday, beating off the challenge of Iran.

It will be the second time that the Emiratis have staged the Asian Cup, having hosted the 1996 edition where they made the final, losing to Saudi Arabia.

"After what we saw in Australia, the championship was successful in every sense," Shaikh Salman said. "So for sure this is a challenge for our brothers. But I hope that the organising committee puts in a more successful event than the previous championship. Potentially they could surpass the stunning AFC Asian Cup 2015 in Australia that we have all just witnessed."

The next Asian Cup will see eight more teams added to the competition format. This will take greater planning for UAE with the number of games increased by one-third, according to Shaikh Salman.

"For the 2019 edition we all know that the number of teams will go from 16 to 24," he said. "UAE has many different communities which is a positive thing. It means that fans will attend games to support their teams."

The UAE defeated 2011 champions Japan on the way to the semifinals of January's Asian Cup where they lost to eventual champions, Australia. They claimed third after edging Iraq 3-2 in the consolation final.

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