One of the standout events on the global schedule in 2024 is set to unfold during the first two months of the year as Qatar gets ready to host the Asian Cup. The competition will kick off on January 12 and culminate with the showdown on February 10. After a lengthy anticipation, this tournament holds particular significance as it marks the second expanded edition, featuring 24 teams vying for glory. The Asian Cup Championship in Qatar promises to be an exceptional event, and you can find more information about it here.

Overview & Venues

The Asian Cup 2024 will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 24 national sides. However, it will occur in the year’s first two months for several reasons. Most importantly, it is down to the high temperatures in Qatar over the summer and the fact that the host nation was participating in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the summer of 2023.

It was revealed in October 2022 that Qatar would be hosting the event, marking the second major tournament held in the nation following the successful 2022 World Cup. Many of the same stadiums will be used again, with all but one of the stadiums used for the global tournament set to be used at the Asian Cup. Lusail Stadium will host the opening match and the final, while Ahmad bin Ali Stadium and Al Thumama Stadium will host the two semi-finals.

Qatar Bidding For Historic Home Success

There will be pressure on the host nation at the 2024 Asian Cup as Qatar looks to defend the title it won in 2019 successfully. Qatar was excellent in the 2019 tournament edition, breezing through every competition stage. They landed victories in all three group-stage matches without conceding a goal before continuing that form by eliminating Iraq and South Korea in the next two rounds.

Qatar then landed a huge 4-0 win against the UAE before upsetting the odds to claim a 3-1 win over Japan in the final. Once again, they aren’t expected to face many issues in the tournament’s group stage this year after being drawn in Group A alongside China, Lebanon, and Tajikistan.

Australia Looking For Improved Showing

Australia will rank among the leading contenders to win the Asian Cup in 2024 despite having only previously landed success on one previous occasion. However, they have reached the final on two occasions since 2011, and they look good value to better their appearance in 2019 after an excellent run of form so far in 2023.

The nation once reached the quarterfinal stage in the tournament’s previous edition before being eliminated by the UAE. However, their performances over the last 12 months have been encouraging since a strong run at the 2022 World Cup. Australia have already held their own against some of the top-ranked sides in the world in 2023, including a 1-0 defeat at Wembley against England. After winning their previous three, they should come into the tournament in excellent form.

Japan Searching For Record-Extending Title

Fewer nations have been more successful in the history of the Asian Cup than Japan. The national side has been crowned champions on five previous occasions, and they will be among the front-runners to extend their dominant sequence in 2024 after being drawn alongside Indonesia, Vietnam, and Iraq in Group D.

Japan would have been disappointed to lose in the final of the 2019 edition, which was their first final appearance since winning the competition in 2011. However, they are among the in-form national sides on the planet at present after recording wins over Germany, Turkey, and Canada in 2023.

Significant Stories

The expansion of the Asian Cup has seen several nations book a spot in the tournament as they look for a strong showing on the world stage. Among those is Kyrgyzstan, which defied all expectations to finish second in their qualification group after winning two out of three matches.

They were ultimately outlasted in that group by another shock emerging nation in the form of Tajikistan, who went three without defeat in the qualification group and kept three straight clean sheets.  

Conclusion

The 2024 edition of the Asian Cup looks set to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, with no shortage of leading nations looking to win the major prize. However, fans of football can look forward to the event getting underway in 2024 in Qatar.

The post The Road to Asian Cup 2024: Teams, Triumphs, and Tales appeared first on Gulfinside.