What country is going to get in the way of the Team India machine?
That will be one of the storylines heading into this weekend’s 38th annual Nations Cup at Hugh Boyd Park. The three-day tournament determines cultural and ethnic bragging rights on the soccer pitch and it’s an event Metro Vancouver’s South Asian community has certainly embraced in recent years.
With easily the biggest group of supporters behind them, India has been a major force in the Open Division and beyond.
They were looking for their third Open title in four years in 2016 when upstart Italy spoiled a big party with a 3-2 overtime win. In total, India reached four of the six age division finals.
This time around, India looks to be part of the “group of death” in Open play that also features traditional powerhouses Germany and Ireland, along with Saudi Arabia.
Other Open Division groupings include: Group A: Italy, Japan, England, Fiji. Group B: Canada, Africa, Iran, Serbia. Group D: Scotland, China, Portugal, Croatia.
Five other titles will be on the line in the Women’s Open, Men’s Over 30, Men’s Over 38, Men’s Over 45 and Men’s Over 52 divisions.
Championship Sunday includes the women’s final at 3 p.m. and the Open title tilt going at 6 p.m. Both will take place on the Boyd Oval.
There will be a wide assortment of food trucks and the ever-popular beer garden.
For the full tournament schedule, clck here
