Copa d'Aeia 2018

2018 FFA Copa d'Aeia

2018 Jǫrðs Mesterskab
Tournament details
Host country	Salborga
Dates	4 July – 29 July
Teams	32 (from 7 confederations)
Venue(s)	6 (in 5 host cities)
Final positions
Champions	Navack (4th title)
Runners-up	Midrasia
Third place	Ajerrin
Fourth place	Tyronova
Tournament statistics
Matches played	48
Goals scored	204 (4.25 per match)

The Copa d'Aeia 2018 was the 29th edition of the Copa d'Aeia, the annual international men's football championship contested by the national teams of the member associations of FFA. The tournament took place in Salborga, the smallest nation to host the tournament, during the summer of 2018. The tournament saw 32 teams compete, over 48 matches.

The final of the tournament was held in the Asvard Stadium in Asvard, and was won by Navack, beating Midrasia by 4 goals to 0.

Host selection

See also: Salborga 2018 Copa d'Aeia bid

Bidding for the 2018 Copa d'Aeia began in late 2017, with national associations having until the conclusion of the previous Copa to register to take part in the ballot. Considerable controversy surrounded the bidding process, particularly in regards to the two favourites within the process, Motsvara and Salborga. Concerns were raised against both bids, with many concerned that the socialist state of Motsvara would not allow sponsorship of the event. Concern was also raised over the Salborga bid, both regarding the ability of the state to host such a large event, as well as Salborga's proximity to the previous hosts Crylante and Navack. A bid was also submitted by Hergemoth, though it did not receive enough traction among voters to pose any real challenge to the other bids. The vote was eventually won by Salborga in the second round by 13-7.

2017 host bidding (majority 11 votes)
Country	Round 1	Round 2
Template:Country data Salborga	9	13
Motsvara	9	7
Template:Country data Hergemoth	2	—

Participating teams

Arabekh (1) Template:Country data Hipasia Hipasia Asura (15) Aleia Arzvan Republic Bevenia Brilliania Chalcia Cuirpthe Crylante Template:Country data Hergemoth Hergemoth Mardin Isles Midrasia Navack Template:Country data Salborga Salborga Template:Country data Sarerdia Sarerdia Tyronova Vvarden

Catai (8) Dreyvisevich Elhazia Kodesh Template:Country data Naharin Naharin Template:Country data Ostrovia Ostrovia Tangkuo Transcandar Template:Country data Uwhistan Uwhistan Majula (1) Kagon

Rennekka (1) Renneque Savai (3) Ajerrin Indragiri Template:Country data New Timeria New Timeria Vestrim (3) Template:Country data Democratic Federation Democratic Federation Isolaprugna Motsvara

Venues

The tournament was played across six venues across Salborga, two of the venues were located in the capital of Asvard, where the final was held at the Asvard Stadium.

• Asvard Stadium. (opening ceremony) 8 group matches, 2 eighth-final matches, 1 quarter-final match, 1 semi-final match, final match (closing ceremony)
• Future Arena. 8 group matches, 2 eighth-final matches, 1 quarter-final match
• Mansley Stadium. 8 group matches, 1 eighth-final match, 1 quarter-final match, third place match
• Salborga Stadium. 8 group matches, 1 eighth-final match, 1 quarter-final match
• Olsterham Arena. 8 group matches, 1 eighth-final match
• Pensfield City Stadium. 8 group matches, 1 eighth-final match

Asvard	Calderney	Mansley
Asvard Stadium Capacity: 60.000	Future Arena Capacity: 30.000	Mansley Stadium Capacity: 28.600
File:Asvard stadium official.jpg	File:Future arena.jpg	File:Mansley stadium.jpg
Asvard	Olsterham	Pensfield
Salborga Stadium Capacity: 25.000	Olsterham Arena Capacity: 24.000	Pensfield City Stadium Capacity: 20.200
File:Salborga arena.JPG	File:Olsterham arena.jpg	File:Pensfield stadium.jpg

Group stage

Key to colours in group tables
	Group winners and runners-up advance to the Round of 16

Group A

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Vvarden	3	3	0	0	5	1	+4	9
Template:Country data Salborga Salborga	3	1	0	2	8	6	+2	3
Template:Country data Democratic Federation Democratic Federation	3	1	0	2	4	5	−1	3
Template:Country data Morsrige Morsrige	3	1	0	2	3	8	−5	3

4 July 2018 (2018-07-04)
Salborga Template:Country data Salborga	0–1	Vvarden	Asvard Stadium, Asvard
Democratic Federation Template:Country data Democratic Federation	0–1	Template:Country data Morsrige Morsrige	Future Arena, Calderney
8 July 2018 (2018-07-08)
Salborga Template:Country data Salborga	3–4	Template:Country data Democratic Federation Democratic Federation	Olsterham Arena, Olsterham
Vvarden	3–1	Template:Country data Morsrige Morsrige	Pensfield City Stadium, Pensfield
12 July 2018 (2018-07-12)
Morsrige Template:Country data Morsrige	1–5	Template:Country data Salborga Salborga	Mansley Stadium, Mansley
Vvarden	1–0	Template:Country data Democratic Federation Democratic Federation	Salborga Stadium, Asvard

Group B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Crylante	3	3	0	0	5	1	+4	9
Elhazia	3	2	0	1	3	2	+1	6
Aleia	3	1	0	2	1	2	−1	3
Template:Country data Sarerdia Sarerdia	3	0	0	3	0	4	−4	0

4 July 2018 (2018-07-04)
Crylante	1–0	Aleia	Mansley Stadium, Mansley
Elhazia	1–0	Template:Country data Sarerdia Sarerdia	Salborga Stadium, Asvard
8 July 2018 (2018-07-08)
Crylante	2–1	Elhazia	Asvard Stadium, Asvard
Aleia	1–0	Template:Country data Sarerdia Sarerdia	Future Arena, Calderney
12 July 2018 (2018-07-12)
Sarerdia Template:Country data Sarerdia	0–2	Crylante	Olsterham Arena, Olsterham
Aleia	0–1	Elhazia	Pensfield City Stadium, Pensfield

Group C

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Midrasia	3	3	0	0	11	1	+10	9
Indragiri	3	2	0	1	2	4	−2	6
Transcandar	3	0	1	2	1	5	−4	1
Template:Country data Naharin Naharin	3	0	1	2	0	4	−4	1

4 July 2018 (2018-07-04)
Midrasia	4–1	Transcandar	Olsterham Arena, Olsterham
Indragiri	1–0	Template:Country data Naharin Naharin	Pensfield City Stadium, Pensfield
8 July 2018 (2018-07-08)
Midrasia	4–0	Indragiri	Mansley Stadium, Mansley
Transcandar	0–0	Template:Country data Naharin Naharin	Salborga Stadium, Asvard
12 July 2018 (2018-07-12)
Naharin Template:Country data Naharin	0–3	Midrasia	Asvard Stadium, Asvard
Transcandar	0–1	Indragiri	Future Arena, Calderney

Group D

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Tyronova	3	2	1	0	5	3	+2	7
Chalcia	3	1	2	0	5	4	+1	5
Renneque	3	1	1	1	3	2	+1	4
Kodesh	3	0	0	3	0	4	−4	0

4 July 2018 (2018-07-04)
Tyronova	1–0	Renneque	Asvard Stadium, Asvard
Chalcia	1–0	Kodesh	Future Arena, Calderney
8 July 2018 (2018-07-08)
Tyronova	3–3	Chalcia	Olsterham Arena, Olsterham
Renneque	2–0	Kodesh	Pensfield City Stadium, Pensfield
12 July 2018 (2018-07-12)
Kodesh	0–1	Tyronova	Mansley Stadium, Mansley
Renneque	1–1	Chalcia	Salborga Stadium, Asvard

Group E

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Template:Country data New Timeria New Timeria	3	2	1	0	14	6	+8	7
Template:Country data Hipasia Hipasia	3	1	2	0	10	8	+2	5
Tangkuo	3	1	1	1	5	6	−1	4
Template:Country data Hergemoth Hergemoth	3	0	0	3	2	11	−9	0

4 July 2018 (2018-07-04)
New Timeria Template:Country data New Timeria	5–5	Template:Country data Hipasia Hipasia	Mansley Stadium, Mansley
Hergemoth Template:Country data Hergemoth	0–3	Tangkuo	Salborga Stadium, Asvard
8 July 2018 (2018-07-08)
New Timeria Template:Country data New Timeria	4–0	Template:Country data Hergemoth Hergemoth	Asvard Stadium, Asvard
Hipasia Template:Country data Hipasia	1–1	Tangkuo	Future Arena, Calderney
12 July 2018 (2018-07-12)
Tangkuo	1–5	Template:Country data New Timeria New Timeria	Olsterham Arena, Olsterham
Hipasia Template:Country data Hipasia	4–2	Template:Country data Hergemoth Hergemoth	Pensfield City Stadium, Pensfield

Group F

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Navack	3	2	1	0	14	5	+9	7
Mardin Isles	3	1	2	0	7	4	+3	5
Dreyvisevich	3	1	1	1	1	7	−6	4
Kagon	3	0	0	3	1	7	−6	0

4 July 2018 (2018-07-04)
Navack	4–4	Mardin Isles	Olsterham Arena, Olsterham
Dreyvisevich	1–0	Kagon	Pensfield City Stadium, Pensfield
8 July 2018 (2018-07-08)
Navack	7–0	Dreyvisevich	Mansley Stadium, Mansley
Mardin Isles	3–0	Kagon	Salborga Stadium, Asvard
12 July 2018 (2018-07-12)
Kagon	1–3	Navack	Asvard Stadium, Asvard
Mardin Isles	0–0	Dreyvisevich	Future Arena, Calderney

Group G

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Ajerrin	3	2	1	0	13	2	+11	7
Motsvara	3	1	1	1	3	4	−1	4
Arzvan Republic	3	1	0	2	2	5	−3	3
Isolaprugna	3	1	0	2	3	10	−7	3

4 July 2018 (2018-07-04)
Ajerrin	3–0	Arzvan Republic	Asvard Stadium, Asvard
Isolaprugna	2–0	Motsvara	Future Arena, Calderney
8 July 2018 (2018-07-08)
Ajerrin	8–0	Isolaprugna	Olsterham Arena, Olsterham
Arzvan Republic	0–1	Motsvara	Pensfield City Stadium, Pensfield
12 July 2018 (2018-07-12)
Motsvara	2–2	Ajerrin	Mansley Stadium, Mansley
Arzvan Republic	2–1	Isolaprugna	Salborga Stadium, Asvard

Group H

Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Template:Country data Uwhistan Uwhistan	3	2	1	0	5	1	+4	7
Cuirpthe	3	1	2	0	4	2	+2	5
Brilliania	3	0	2	1	1	3	−2	2
Bevenia	3	0	1	2	2	6	−4	1

4 July 2018 (2018-07-04)
Bevenia	0–0	Brilliania	Mansley Stadium, Mansley
Cuirpthe	0–0	Template:Country data Uwhistan Uwhistan	Salborga Stadium, Asvard
8 July 2018 (2018-07-08)
Bevenia	1–3	Cuirpthe	Asvard Stadium, Asvard
Brilliania	0–2	Template:Country data Uwhistan Uwhistan	Future Arena, Calderney
12 July 2018 (2018-07-12)
Uwhistan Template:Country data Uwhistan	3–1	Bevenia	Olsterham Arena, Olsterham
Brilliania	1–1	Cuirpthe	Pensfield City Stadium, Pensfield

Knockout stage

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

16 July – Asvard Stadium

Vvarden

0

20 July – Salborga Stadium

Elhazia

1

Elhazia

1

16 July – Salborga Stadium

Midrasia

2

Midrasia

7

24 July – Future Arena

Chalcia

0

Midrasia

5

16 July – Olsterham Arena

Ajerrin

0

Template:Country data New Timeria New Timeria

1

20 July – Asvard Stadium

Mardin Isles

0

Template:Country data New Timeria New Timeria

5 (3)

16 July – Future Arena

Ajerrin

5 (4)

Ajerrin

3

29 July – Asvard Stadium

Cuirpthe

2

Midrasia

0

16 July – Asvard Stadium

Navack

4

Crylante

3

20 July – Future Arena

Template:Country data Salborga Salborga

4

Template:Country data Salborga Salborga

2

16 July – Mansley Stadium

Tyronova

4

Tyronova

1

24 July – Asvard Stadium

Indragiri

0

Tyronova

0

16 July – Pensfield City Stadium

Navack

1

Third place

Navack

2

20 July – Mansley Stadium

28 July – Mansley Stadium

Template:Country data Hipasia Hipasia

0

Navack

5

Ajerrin

1

16 July – Future Arena

Motsvara

1

Tyronova

0

Template:Country data Uwhistan Uwhistan

1

Motsvara

4

Final tournament ranking

Per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-out are counted as draws.

Pos.	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Navack	7	6	1	0	26	6	+20	19
2	Midrasia	7	6	0	1	25	6	+19	18
3	Ajerrin	7	5	1	1	22	14	+8	16
4	Tyronova	7	4	1	2	10	7	+3	13
5	Template:Country data New Timeria New Timeria	5	3	1	1	20	11	+9	10
6	Elhazia	5	3	0	2	5	4	+1	9
7	Motsvara	5	2	1	2	7	5	+2	7
8	Template:Country data Salborga Salborga	5	2	0	3	10	10	0	6
9	Crylante	4	3	0	1	9	5	+4	9
10	Vvarden	4	3	0	1	5	2	+3	9
11	Template:Country data Uwhistan Uwhistan	4	2	1	1	6	5	+1	7
12	Indragiri	4	2	0	2	2	5	−3	6
13	Mardin Isles	4	1	2	1	7	5	+2	5
14	Cuirpthe	4	1	2	1	6	5	+1	5
15	Template:Country data Hipasia Hipasia	4	1	2	1	10	10	0	5
16	Chalcia	4	1	2	1	5	11	−6	5
17	Renneque	3	1	1	1	3	2	+1	4
18	Tangkuo	3	1	1	1	5	6	−1	4
19	Dreyvisevich	3	1	1	1	1	7	−6	4
20	Template:Country data Democratic Federation Democratic Federation	3	1	0	2	4	5	−1	3
21	Aleia	3	1	0	2	1	2	−1	3
22	Arzvan Republic	3	1	0	2	2	5	−3	3
23	Template:Country data Morsrige Morsrige	3	1	0	2	3	8	−5	3
24	Isolaprugna	3	1	0	2	3	10	−7	3
25	Brilliania	3	0	2	1	1	3	−2	2
26	Transcandar	3	0	1	2	1	5	−4	1
27	Template:Country data Naharin Naharin	3	0	1	2	0	4	−4	1
28	Bevenia	3	0	1	2	2	6	−4	1
29	Kodesh	3	0	0	3	0	4	−4	0
30	Template:Country data Sarerdia Sarerdia	3	0	0	3	0	4	−4	0
31	Kagon	3	0	0	3	1	7	−6	0
32	Template:Country data Hergemoth Hergemoth	3	0	0	3	2	11	−9	0

Controversies

Host selection

Controversy surrounded the host selection for the 2018 tournament, specifically surrounding the bids by Motsvara and Salborga. Whilst the bid by Hergemoth did not receive enough support to be considered a genuine contender, there were considerable issues pointed out in regards to both Motsvara and Salborga hosting the event. Concerns over Motsvara hosting were specifically in relation to the ability of the FFAs official partners, such as Mælkeagtig operating for the duration of the tournament, due to Motsvara's laws against private companies. Many within the FFA lobbied voters to award the tournament to Salborga, or to petition the Motsvaran government to allow these official partners to operate within the country for a limited duration throughout the tournament. Concerns over whether sponsors could even be visible on team jerseys or match balls were also raised, placing much doubt over the tournament, as well as how much Motsvara would have to pay to be able to host the tournament without the financial backing of sponsors.

Despite this, concerns were also raised regarding the Salborgan bid, which was twofold. Primarily, the FFA was concerned about the ability of the Salborgan state to host the tournament. With a population of only 304,000 could cope with the influx of several million fans arriving for the event. Concerns over infrastructure and whether there would be sufficient space to house so many fans arriving were considerable, placing the tournament in doubt. Additionally, the longevity of plans to build or expand existing stadiums were raised, as the total capacity of such stadiums would exceed the population of the country. When suggestions that Salborga could rely on Navack to house fans for the tournament, further concerns were raised by the FFA, with many seeing the Salborgan bid to be far too close to the Crylante-Navack Copa d'Aeia of the previous year. Many within the FFA preferred to see the event hosted by a nation outside of Asura as the previous two tournaments had been held there.