Conifa World Cup 2018 Preview

(photo by @olga_ingurazova)

Tomorrow sees the CONIFA World Cup 2018 in London begin, with 48 matches played out over ten days.  The tournament will involve 16 teams from across the globe, competing to add their name to the CONIFA World Football Cup honour roll alongside past victors County of Nice (2014) and Abkhazia (2016). Unlike many other major international tournament, CONIFA events include placement games for teams that do not qualify for the quarter-finals. This is done to ensure CONIFA is fulfiling its core mission: giving everyone an opportunity to play football.  Also known as the 'Stateless World Cup' it brings together some of the lesser known smaller regions and nations around the world. 

Below are the four groups that will play out the group stages of the competition:-
Group A
Barawa
Ellan Vannin
Tamil Eelam
Cascadia

Group B
Abkhazia
Northern Cyprus
Karpatalya
Tibet

Group C
Padania
Szekely Land
Tuvalu
Matabeleland

Group D
Panjab
United Koreans in Japan
Western Armenia
Kabylia

These teams will play across ten non league grounds in and around the London area, and it all begins tomorrow at midday with various group games taking place at Midday in different locations, before the afternoon games are followed by the opening ceremony at 7pm at Bromley's Hayes Lane. 

Here are the full fixtures for the Group Stages:-
Thursday 31st May
Midday
Group A - Ellan Vannin vs Cascadia (Gander Green Lane, Sutton United FC)
Group B - Abkhazia vs Tibet (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Group C - Szekely Land vs Tuvalu (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Group D - United Koreans In Japen vs Western Armenia (Colston Avenue Football Stadium, Carshalton Athletic FC)

3pm
Group B - Northern Cyprus vs Karpatalya (Queen Elizebeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Group C - Padania vs Matabeleland (Gander Green Lane, Sutton United FC)
Group D - Panjab vs Kabylia (Arbour Park, Slough Town FC)

7pm
Opening Ceremony (Hayes Lane, Bromley FC)

8pm
Barawa vs Tamil Eelam (Hayes Lane, Bromley FC)

Saturday 2nd June
2pm
Group A - Barawa vs Cascadia (Colston Avenue Football Stadium, Carshalton Athletic FC)
Group B - Abkhazia vs Karpatalya (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Group C - Szekely Land vs Matabeleland (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Group D - United Koreans In Japan vs Kabylia (Larges Lane, Bracknell Town FC)

5pm
Group A - Ellan Vannin vs Tamil Eelam (Colston Avenue Football Stadium, Carshalton Athletic FC)
Group B - Northern Cyprus vs Tibet (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
Group C - Padania vs Tuvalu (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
Group D - Panjab vs Western Armenia (Arbour Park, Slough Town FC)

Sunday 3rd June
3pm
Group A - Barawa vs Ellan Vannin (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
           Tamil Eelam vs Cascadia (St Paul's Sports Ground, Fisher FC)
Group B - Abkhazia vs Northern Cyprus (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
           Karpatalya vs Tibet (Larges Lane, Bracknell Town FC)

6pm
Group C - Tuvalu vs Matabeleland (Coles Park Stadium, Haringey Borough FC)
           Padania vs Szekely Land (Bedfont Recreation Ground, Bedfont Sports FC)
Group D - Western Armenia vs Kabylia (Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town FC)
           Panjab vs United Koreans In Japan (Arbour Park, Slough Town FC)

After a rest day on Monday June 4th the placement round's begin for 9th-16th and also 5th-8th, so each side is given the chance to play as much football as possible and to finish the tournament in a place.  I will write a piece on this once the group games are done.

At the same time the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals will be played before the final day (next Saturday 9th June) sees the Third Place Play Off and Grand Final take place at Enfield's Queen Elizabeth II Stadium. 

Reigning holders Abkhazia go into the tournament as second favourites behind Padania, followed by Panjab, Barawa and United Koreans In Japan.  And if you are looking for true long shots at winning the whole thing then take a look at Tibet or late additions Tuvalu, however whatever happens it sure proves to be an exciting ten days.

I will be attending the two games at Enfield Town on Sunday 3rd June as well as Semi Final B next Thursday at Carshalton Athletic, I would of gone to more had work commitments not got in the way!!!


Also I will be writing a blog on each day, so stay tuned!!!