Less than five months after hosting the best ever FIFA World Cup, Qatar came into the spotlight again as Doha hosted the Draw for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 at the weekend. The Gulf state that has unarguably become the world’s sports capital after delivering blockbuster events over the years will stage the continental showpiece from 12 January to 10 February, 2024.
Representatives of the 24 competing sides including the team coaches who attended the Draw at the Katara Opera House were expecting Qatar to host Asia’s premier tournament in a spectacular fashion. The Gulf state will become the first nation to host the tournament three times having hosted the 1988 and 2011 editions.
Initially, China had the hosting right for the Asian Cup 2023 this summer but the tournament was moved out because of the country’s strict COVID-19 rules. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) handed the hosting to Qatar after the country made bid along with South Korea and Indonesia.
Hailing Qatar as the best host nations in global football history, AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa expressed his confidence the game’s governing body will host the greatest ever edition of the Asian Cup together with country’s Local Organising Committee (LOC). He also thanked Qatar for stepping in as hosts.
Boasting state-of-the-art infrastructure and rich experience in organising major events, Qatar is expected to set new benchmarks in hosting of the competition’s history. The participating teams and the visiting fans are set to experience the same top-notch facilities which were offered during the World Cup.
Eight venues which will host the Asian Cup games include six stadiums that hosted the World Cup matches. The visiting Asian football fans are expected to create electrifying atmosphere during these matches that will surely revive the World Cup memories.
All eyes are now on the opening ceremony which will be held at 68,895-capacity Al Bayt Stadium before tournament’s inaugural match between Group A teams – hosts and holders Qatar and Lebanon – on January 12, 2024. The draw also threw up other exciting group matches like Syria vs Australia in Group B; Japan vs Iraq in Group D and Saudi Arabia vs Oman in Group F.
AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 CEO Jassim Abdulaziz Al Jassim has vowed LOC will do its best to take the World Cup legacy forward by organising a fantastic edition of the tournament. He said Qatar has best venues, infrastructure and organisational skills to deliver a memorable event, hoping the country will live up to great expectations of all stakeholders.
