With just over seven weeks remaining to the start of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, excitement is mounting among the fans who are gearing up to cheer for their teams at continent’s premier competition. The unveiling of the Official Mascots on Friday has added thrill among them setting the stage for the greatest edition of the tournament.
The special ceremony to unveil the mascots itself was a glimpse of what to come early next year with hundreds of fans assembling at the Msheireb Downtown to enjoy the breathtaking performances by different groups of artists. Many fans will remember the family of five desert rodents unveiled as the mascots of Qatar 2023 from 2011.
Saboog, Tmbki, Freha, Zkriti and Traenehwill once again be the face of Asia’s most prestigious football tournament, after making their debut twelve years ago when Qatar last hosted the AFC Asian Cup. “The mascots of the 2023 Asian Cup invoke wonderful memories from 2011, but also embody the excitement and energy of what will certainly be an amazing competition,” said Hassan Al Kuwari, Marketing and Communications Executive Director of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Local Organizing Committee.
The Asian Cup featuring continent’s top ranked 24 teams will take place from January 12 to February 10, 2024 across nine venues in Qatar including seven stadiums which hosted the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 matches. The iconic Lusail Stadium which was also home to the memorable World Cup final will host the opening and closing matches.
A great performance can be expected from hosts Qatar, who will defend their Asian Cup crown after their triumph in the UAE in previous edition. Like the FIFA World Cup, fans will be able to stay in one venue throughout the tournament due to Qatar’s compact nature with the farthest distance between any two stadiums is 75kms.
All the venues are expected to be operating with full capacity as the organisers are receiving overwhelming response in ticket sales which started in October. After all tickets were sold out in the first phase, an additional 90,000 tickets were secured by the fans within the first 24 hours of a second batch being released on November 19. Supporters from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India are being the biggest buyers of tickets.
Recently, fan leaders from across Asia expressed their excitement for Qatar 2023, hoping to witness the best-ever edition after the country hosted the highly successful FIFA World Cup one year ago. With its rich experience of hosting mega events, Qatar is expected to deliver a blockbuster which will set new benchmark for future hosts.
